Hailstorms ravage Bushenyi

Oct 18, 2015

OVER 1000 families in Katikamwe parish district in Kyabugimbi sub county Bushenyi district are worried about famine following a hailstorm that ravaged six villages in the area

By Chris Mugasha

 

OVER 1000 families in Katikamwe parish district in Kyabugimbi sub county Bushenyi district are worried about famine following a hailstorm that ravaged six villages in the area.

 

The hailstorm left several gardens of crops which included millet, banana plantations, beans, cassava and other properties worth millions of shillings destroyed.

 

At Katikamwe primary school, four class rooms were destroyed after their roofs were blown off while at Katikamwe Church of Uganda; the residence of the priest was destroyed forcing the priest and his family to seek refuge in the church.

 

The minister for security and the district woman MP Mary Karooro Okurut rushed to the affected villages on Saturday to assess the situation. The residents appealed to government to help them with assistance especially food and seedlings.

 

“Let government send us some maize floor which can push us through this situation,” said the area LCII chairperson Frank Murindwa. The residents recalled that it had taken sometime without experiencing such a catastrophe. 

 

One resident only identified as Matovu has been arrested by residents on allegations of being a rain. It is alleged that earlier on, Matovu intimidated one resident who had a graduation party that he will not hold the party.

 

Addressing the affected, Karooro said in collaboration with the area MP Michael Mawanda, they have already alerted the ministry of disaster and preparedness about the incident.

 

“We have been asked to compile the list of the most affected families so that government can see how to intervene and provide some assistance,” Karooro said. 

 

She called upon the residents to be cautious during this rainy season where El Nino has been predicted, asking the residents to observe the issue of environmental protection.

 

“The reason why we are experiencing such a disaster is because God is not happy with the way how we have deformed his creation,” Karooro warned. 

 

She advised the residents to plant trees which can act as wind breakers. On the arrest of the rain maker, Karooro told the residents to stop listening to such traditional beliefs which she described as backward.

 

In a related incident, heavy rains on Saturday disrupted the exercise of electing NRM flag bearers in the 2016 local council’s general elections.

 

This affected the turn up of voters in most of the polling stations as roads became impassable.

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