Heavy storm hits Mbarara

By Raymond Baguma

HEAVY rains and strong winds destroyed several acres of banana plantations, uprooted trees and blew-off roof tops in Nyakayojo sub-county, Mbarara district on Sunday.

Teo Kataratambi, a banana farmer, said: “The rain lasted for about 30 minutes. It destroyed 15 acres of my banana plantations and eucalyptus trees.”

He revealed that strong winds usually hit the area in March.

Kataratambi, who is also an area councillor and chairperson for Nyamiyaga matooke growers association, said about 150 farmers had been affected.

“We have been selling over 20 lorries of matooke weekly. Unfortunately, the disaster occurred when we had not paid school fees for our children. This is going to have a negative financial impact because matooke is our security.”

He also foresaw a food shortage, arguing that they were selling bananas to buy other foodstuffs.

The Rwampara county MP, Charles Ngabirano and Nyakayojo LC3 chairperson, Jomo Mugabi, on Saturday visited the area to assess the extent of damage.

Ngabirano observed: “There will be a food shortage because people depend on bananas as a source of income. We need to inform the Government about this tragedy.”

Recently, a hailstorm hit the district ravaging banana, cassava and potato gardens in Kashaari county.

Weather experts attribute the storms to a lot of heat and energy accumulated in the dry season that causes violent storms.