Kasese PWDs bear the brunt of floods, landslides

____________

KASESE - Kasese-based People With Disabilities (PWDs), especially the internally displaced, say they suffer the most whenever disasters, including floods and landslides strike the district.

They narrated their ordeal during a meeting on May 23, 2024, when the National Union of Disabled Persons Uganda (NUDIPU) visited various internally displaced people's camps. The Kasese visit was to ascertain how PWDs were impacted by the recent landslides.

The recent heavy rains in Kasese caused major rivers, including Nyamugasana, Nyamwamba, Mubuku and Sebwe to break the banks and flood but also triggered mudslides in hilly sub-counties.

The mudslides forced 5389 people into IDP camps where about 700 are PWDs.

According to them, they continue to suffer unfair treatment including inaccessibility to basic needs, discrimination and failure to access IDP camps among others.

Bernard Baluku, 33, a PWD, said even meeting some of the basic needs such as water and medical services is difficult for him because he finds it hard to line up for a long time in the long queues while in the IDP camp.

"In the camp, everyone is on their own," he said.

Hausen Kule, 58, a resident of Nyabuko village in Ibanda-Kyanya town council, lives on a hill prone to mudslides is the father of Habibu Thembo, 17, a PWD. He said he has faced unmatched challenges including being on alert whenever it rains and routinely carrying his son to safety, especially after the death of his wife four years ago.

"I can never travel far distances for work and earn a living," Kule said, adding: "Everyone is in the camp but we are here because of personal hygiene issues".

Kule, who described the visit of NUDIPU staff as a miracle, reported that he has never seen leaders or authorities of PWDs reaching his hilly village home to accord his son all the necessary help.

Hausen Kule, 58, carrying his 17-year-old as NUDIPU staff watch on. (All Photos by Samuel Amanyire)

"You are so far the first people to visit me," he said.

Maria Masika, 64, who is visually impaired and a resident of Kanyatsi village in Kyarumba sub-county living with her seven children, said the mudslides destroyed her house and coffee plantation which could earn her money to pay for school fees and other necessities for them.

"We are now stranded in the camp yet the term is beginning soon," she said.

Lack of a budget for disasters

Kasese district LC5 vice-chairperson Ham Natuhwera said it's unfortunate for the district to continuously register disastrous calamities that have left people dead and properties destroyed.

"Our biggest challenge is not having a budget for the disaster and management committee," Natuhwera said.

"But again these incidents happen in mountainous areas which require vehicles and fuel to go there," he added.

Natuhwera disclosed that when disasters strike, PWDs are largely affected since they are naturally disadvantaged and have minimal chances of escaping in times of disaster but also have a low response in disaster management.

He added that as a district, they have tried to take records of the PWDs as well as giving them special considerations while executing government programmes including Emyooga, and the Parish development Model PDM.

NUDIPU speaks out

NUDIPU programme manager Martin Ssennogga said they received reports of several PWDs who lost their property as well as lives in disaster-related incidents. They, therefore, came to the ground to find out those who had been affected with the hope of soliciting aid for them.

"With the guidance of the district leadership, we have been able to visit several IDP camps and capture their information," Ssennogga said.

"We largely care about their lives and will be lobbying for them relief items on top of the support we accord them always," he added.