A heavy storm has left a trail of destruction in Rugaaga sub-county, Bukanga county, Isingiro district.

More than 6,000 residents from 31 villages in Nyabubare, Kyarubambura and Kiryaburo parishes are counting losses after their crops and property were destroyed during a storm.

The downpour, which happened on Sunday (March 21) evening, mainly destroyed banana plantations, a major source of income and food for the people in the area.

The rains that lasted over three hours also destroyed houses and a church.

“We are in shock, I personally do not know where to start from. I ask the Government and other organisations to come to our rescue,” John Tuhaise, a resident of Birunduma village, said.

Victims cry foul

Merab Kyobutungi, another resident of Birunduma village, told New Vision that her 10 acres of bananas were destroyed.

Similarly, John Bosco Kafeero, 68, a resident of Nyabubare, is worried that his two children, who are in their second year at Bishop Stuart University, might not finish their course since his banana plantation, the only source of income for the family was destroyed.

Kafeero also has other children in secondary and primary school, who also depend on matooke for their school fees.

Annette Nante, a resident of Kiryaburo, was also left in tears after her 22 acres of bananas were destroyed.

Nante is worried about where to get money to pay back the bank loan she acquired to expand her banana plantation.

“My worry is where to get food for my seven children, and, more so, money to pay back the bank loan I acquired to improve my garden,” Nante said.

Appeal for help

According to Mathias Tushabomwe, the mayor-elect for Rugaaga town council, about 90% of the population in Rugaaga sub-county depends on matooke as their source of food and income.

Three years ago, the area was hit by a serious drought, which destroyed plantations.

Following the incident, residents have been depending on relief from the Government and other donations for survival. 

With the latest calamity, the residents are worried they might be hit by hunger.

Following the drought, many of the affected families acquired bank loans to improve their plantations and now these are no more.

Many are worried they will end up in prisons if banks do not extend their loan repayment periods.

“We ask financial institutions that have clients in this area to assist them by extending the repayment period. If they are to arrest defaulters, then they will arrest the entire sub county because people have no money to pay the loans,” Tushabomwe said.

Francis Twase Kawesi, the LC3 chairperson-elect for Rugaaga sub-county, said: “I do not know how we shall maintain these people without food. Not many years ago, their plantations were heavily destroyed by drought and were depending on food aid from the Government and other organisations. We have been in a recovery stage, but another problem has happened.”

Rugaaga is one of the sub counties that form Isingiro district. On average, the district produces over 100 trucks of matooke every day.

Very few farming households are engaged in medium-scale and commercial farming.

We need government rescue

Francis Kagoro

I have lost 10 acres of bananas. I am a disabled person and my only source of survival with my family was banana growing.

Everest Kiiza

Our biggest worry are the bank loans that we have to service. We are left with no alternative but to ask well-wishers to come to our rescue.

Photo caption: Residents of Rugaaga looking at their banana plantations that were destroyed during a hailstorm. Photo by Abdulkarim Ssengendo