Three children from one family perish in heavy downpour

Feb 25, 2019

Most of the residents, who survived, had to run out of their houses as the heavy rains intensified

 

Residents at Bugoba village, Nyenga division in Buikwe district were left in grief and horror after three children from one family died in a heavy downpour.

The deceased include 8-year-old Shiran Nanyonjo a pupil at Kiwanyi Primary School, 4-year-old Rahim Ruzokyera and 2-year-old Malufu Baligeya.

The heavy rains also levelled a number of houses and blew the rooftops off of others.

The rains that lasted for about four hours also left several food crop gardens destroyed and felled trees.

ne of the houses that collapsed in the heavy downpour hoto by onald iiryaOne of the houses that collapsed in the heavy downpour. Photo by Donald Kiirya

 

According to the children's mother Nambu Nabirye the downpour began on Saturday night at around 9:30 pm and had intensified by 11:00 pm into Sunday morning.

"I had a loud noise from the skies and next was a thunderstorm. I saw bricks and the rooftop falling onto my children who were sleeping on their bed. I survived because I was not sleeping on my bed and after realising the tragedy, I made an alarm until residents gathered at our house to rescue me as I was trapped under the bricks too," Nabirye said.

Robert Mulwana the Njeru Municipality speaker told New Vision that most of the residents, who survived, had to run out of their houses as the heavy rains intensified.

He added that six people were injured and are nursing injuries in the various hospitals where they were taken.

jeru  hristopher uhunde middle visiting various houses that were affected in the heavy downpour hoto by onald iiryaNjeru DPC Christopher Ruhunde (middle) visiting various houses that were affected in the heavy downpour. Photo by Donald Kiirya

 

The Nyenga division LC3 chairperson Pastor Moses Bbamu said that the affected villages where several houses were destroyed include Bugoba A, Bugoba B, Namabu, Kandaha, Tongolo, Buwampa and Kikondo.

Bbamu requested the disaster preparedness ministry to support the affected families with construction materials for their houses and food.

Yasin Kyazze, the Njeru Municipality mayor said they are going to organise a special council meeting to see how they can support affected residents.

Christopher Ruhunde the Njeru division Police commander who visited the scene confirmed the death of the three children adding that eighty houses were damaged due to poor construction plans.

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