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Many schools in Kasese district adjacent to major rivers have registered a low turn-up of learners due to Sunday night floods.

This flooding of Rivers Nyamwamba, Sebwe and Mobuku consequently affected learning as schools opened on the first day of third term on Monday. 

Majority of schools still reported huge numbers of absenteeism on Tuesday.

The bursting of river banks equally destroyed a number of properties mainly roads and temporary bridges.

Elisha Muhindo, the head teacher of Basecamp primary school indicated that only 99 learners out of 657 whom they closed with last term have turned up explaining that most of them come from across River Nyamwamba and therefore could not make it because of its floods and related disastrous effects.

“This has been a challenge for most schools whose learners come across the river,” Muhindo said.

Magdalena Mulhondi, head teacher Road Barrier Primary School whose school only registered 31 pupils out of the 520 learners they had last term, unveiled an unfortunate incident where they almost lost a P.3 child at the expense of R. Nyamwamba.

She added that a few determined learners who come to schools whenever Nyamwamba floods face the challenge of walking a long distance of over three hours to access the school.

Parents speak out

Jaffari Kigutiha a senior citizen but also chairperson LC1 Basecamp lower cell expressed his and the fear of most parents about their children performing poorly this term because of being absent as a result of floods but also highlighted the lives of their children remaining at risk.

“Because Nyamwamba is not stopping to flood today. This means every time it floods our children will not always attend classes.”Kigutiha said.

“That aside, how about farmers who have to cross the river with food as they carry it to Mawa market?” he added.

Continuous effects of River Nyamwamba floods

Uzieri Kamuhanda woman councillor Kyanzuki ward said that currently, they are facing quite a number of challenges in Bulembia especially high school dropouts since the floods of river Nyamwamba washed away the small bridges and roads connecting learners to schools. 

Many roads are also impassable during the heavy rains.

“Of recent we visited Kilembe secondary school, the number of students dropped from 800 students to 500. But again these days most children are found home and others loitering in their village centers,” Kamuhanda said.

“Most of the girls have resorted to getting married at an early age.” She added.

She also said that because of the roads and bridges being cut off, tourists find it hard to visit most of the tourist sites in Kilembe especially those who go to hike Margarita Peak among other tourist attractions in the area.

Mutende Augustine a businessman of kyanzuki ward said that for the last 10 years as they experienced the fierce floods of river Nyamwamba, they have experienced economic, social and political and went on to illustrate that currently they are finding it hard to make goods from Kasese town reach their small scale retail shops in the village.

“Look at the markets, they are registering low turn-ups of traders,” He added.

About alternative community roads

Following the fresh floods of River Nyamwamba, the main road connecting Bulembia division to Kasese town and other small roads were swept away halting the movement of vehicles and people in the division.

Recently, leaders mobilized residents who have since embarked on constructing a community road that connects most villages of Bulembia division to Kasese town without necessarily crossing river Nyamwamba.

The Katarahusi road lies on the hills of Kyanzuki Hills and will require 2000 liters of fuel but also hiring D10 machines to have it fully rehabilitated for vehicles and people to use.

Division chairperson speaks out

In a recent interview, Pimako Kasereka the chairman LC3 Nyamwamba division blamed the contractors in charge of River Nyamwamba de-silting project for starting the initiative stream leaving the low areas to face the wrath of the river’s floods whenever it takes course.

“Over five villages are always massively affected especially Kitooro Mumbuzi Nyamwamba east Umoja and Kanyangeya but worst of it all even the airfield is now at greater risk,” Pimako explained.

He recommended that there should be provision of an immediate excavator to re-direct the river to its main Chunnel but also called for immediate action of river Nyamwamba de-silting that will see the lower parts covered too.

Wrong de-silting strategies implemented

Earlier on 23rd July 2023, the area Member of Parliament Kasese municipality Ferigo Kambale where the river traces its pass cautioned the wrong strategies used to de-silt the river mainly pinpointing the construction of gabions and planting of bamboo trees as nothing much towards curbing down the flooding of the disastrous river.

“How I wish the government thought of buying at least three D10 machines and reserve over 10,000 liters of fuel to constantly de-silt the river whenever it attempts to flood rather than temporarily hiring companies to waste our money,” he added.