BySimon Emwamu and Felix Osujo

PROPERTY worth over sh10b has been destroyed by the ongoing rains in Katakwi district, a report released by the chief administrative officer, Milton Kato, has shown.

According to the report of September 16, the situation has been made worse by the run-off water from the neighbouring districts of Napak and Amuria, which has filled up waterways and also destroys infrastructure, crops and grazing land.

“The most affected areas are Magoro, Katakwi, Ngariam, Ongongoja and Palam sub-counties. Pupils’ attendance in 17 schools has drastically dropped from 85% to 5%, with Osudio, Obwobwo, Okocho and Ongongoja primary schools rendered inaccessible,” the report notes.

Several school pit-latrines have sank and the few pupils who attend school lack proper sanitary facilities.

“Residents who have been displaced by the floods use the school structures for accommodation, posing a health threat to pupils due to poor waste disposal,” the report reads.

Crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes and groundnuts, worth sh8b, have also been destroyed due to water logging and diseases, the report adds.

A number of roads have become impassable, making transport a nightmare. The damage caused on the roads is estimated at over sh1b.

The worst affected roads, according to the report, are Magoro-Angisa, Magoro-Ngariam, Ngariam-Omodoi-Magoro, Ngariam-Palam-Isingi and Odoot Corner-Ngariam.

Others are Odoot-Olupe, Usuk-Ongongoja, Ongongoja-Obwobwo, Usuk-Amuria, Orungo Corner-Adacar, Toroma-Gweri-Soroti and Katakwi-Moroto.

Several water sources, the report notes, are contaminated, posing a health risk to the residents.

Although the district water department has tried to disinfect the water sources, the problem persists due to the continuous rains.

Meanwhile, the department of disaster preparedness and relief in the Office of the Prime Minister has handed over 200 bags of maize flour and 200 bags of beans to Katakwi district leaders.

The food will be distributed to residents of Palam sub-county, who are severely affected by the floods.

“We shall also provide families with tarpaulins for drying food items,” said Musa Ecweru, the relief and disaster preparedness state minister.