Heavy rains leave hundreds homeless in Lira

Mar 12, 2014

AT least 100 households have been left homeless in Ngetta and Lira Sub Counties in Lira district and six people admitted in critical condition at Lira Regional Referral Hospital

By Dominic Ochola & Jospeh Ekol

AT least 100 households have been left homeless in Ngetta and Lira Sub Counties in Lira district and six people admitted in critical condition at Lira Regional Referral Hospital after heavy rains demolished their houses last night.

The evening downpour that marked the onset of the rainy season in northern Uganda after months of a dry spell also killed several livestock and destroyed properties worth millions of shillings.

“My only cattle that for long I depended on for paying my children to go to school through sale of milk died instantly after wind brought down a big tree that fell onto the herd” Mila Ayo, a mother of six told New Vision.

Ayo, 39, a resident of Onyapu-Oyere village is counting more losses after the tree also fell on the roof of her grass thatched house reducing it to rubble.

Richard Odongo, who runs a retail shop in Onyapu-Oyere was also a victim of the devastation as rain destroyed his shop with goods worth 7.5 million shillings.

Odongo said: “I don’t know where to begin from but certainly I am finished because my business and source of livelihood is no more.”

Teachers of Anyom-Orem Primary School in Ngetta have been forced into makeshift accommodation after the rain blew off roofs of the staff houses.

Tom Anyi, a modern farmer in Te Lela village was left in shock after his 11 acres of citrus, bananas and mangoes were left in ruins due to the downpour.

The affected people have appealed to humanitarian agencies operating in the district to send possible assistance to help them recover from the catastrophe.

Geoffrey Opio the chairman LC1 of Bangobango Moko village has called on the disaster committee of the district to solicit for aid that can help the affected households.

“We are mobilizing resources to be channelled to the affected families.” George Okwe the LC3 chairperson of Ngetta sub County said.

This is the first time since the area has faced such devastation due to weather.

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