1,000 homeless in Bugiri

Apr 25, 2003

AT least 130 homesteads were destroyed by floods on Monday leaving over 1,050 people homeless in Wakawaka landing site on the shores of Lake Victoria in Bulidha sub-county

By Jonathan Angura

AT least 130 homesteads were destroyed by floods on Monday leaving over 1,050 people homeless in Wakawaka landing site on the shores of Lake Victoria in Bulidha sub-county.

The floods razed household property, domestic animals and merchandise worth millions of shillings.

The district LC5 chairman, Siraji Lyavaala, said the floods resulted from a heavy downpour on Tuesday night that swept off Kagera bridge which connects Kibuye village to the landing site.

He said road transport was also cut.

Lyavaala said Wakawaka is the biggest landing site on Lake Victoria shores in the eastern districts bordering the lake.

The district information officer, Menya Musasizi, said the flooding started at night when some people were still asleep. No deaths were reported.

He said after sweeping away the bridge, water from the neighbouring villages merged with that from the lake and lost direction, resulting into flooding.

“The water was very turbulent after losing direction,” Musasizi said, adding that attempts by some residents to save their property were fruitless as the floods moved very fast.

This is the second flooding in the area in a period of less than one month.

He said children were prone to contracting malaria due to the cold.

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