Floods destroy crops in 10 districts
Sep 25, 2010
AT least 10 districts in eastern and western Uganda have been hit by floods. The Government estimates that the damage to crops, roads and schools is in billions of shillings and might eat deep into the national coffers.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
AT least 10 districts in eastern and western Uganda have been hit by floods. The Government estimates that the damage to crops, roads and schools is in billions of shillings and might eat deep into the national coffers.
In addition, affected districts are likely to experience severe food shortage, followed by long dry spell.
The minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, Musa Ecweru, on Thursday said 10 districts were facing serious problems due to the ‘above normal’ rains that had washed away bridges, roads and flooded gardens which resulted in food crops rotting.
He said in Amuria Katakwi, Bukedea, Ngora and parts of Serere in Teso, people were in dire need of food and clothing.
In the west, in Kisoro, Bundibugyo, Kasese and Kabarole districts, water sources including boreholes, were contaminated and communities were reporting increasing cases of pneumonia.
In Kibaale and Masindi, hailstorms destroyed gardens and people were left in desperate need of food.
The minister warned that according to the meteorology department, the rains would continue up to the end of October but would be followed by a dry spell to run from December to April 2011.
“We fear that we shall experience severe food shortages and famine in the coming months, since those who would have managed to harvest some food during this season might not have enough during the dry spell,†the minister said.
The planting season was supposed to start in February, but Ecweru says that will be the peak of the drought.
In Teso, water logging had led to the rotting of cassava and potato tubers.
Ecweru said many roads had been cut off and it was becoming impossible for the Government to transport relief items.
Other likely negative effects include increasing cases of malaria infections since water logged fields are breeding grounds for mosquitoes and exposure to water-borne diseases that come as a result of drinking contaminated water.
Ecweru added that some school buildings and pit latrines had sunk because many schools were located in low lying areas and in some places maggots from pit latrines were floating in school compounds. At Ameru Primary School in Katakwi, for example, the government relocated Primary Six and Seven pupils to Angolebwal.
The minister directed chief administrative officers to evaluate the damage and find out what was required in terms of cash and aid.
The most needed relief items include food, tarpaulins, polythene papers to serve as food drying carpets because the ground is soggy and blankets, water treatment tablets, blankets and mosquito nets.
AT least 10 districts in eastern and western Uganda have been hit by floods. The Government estimates that the damage to crops, roads and schools is in billions of shillings and might eat deep into the national coffers.
In addition, affected districts are likely to experience severe food shortage, followed by long dry spell.
The minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, Musa Ecweru, on Thursday said 10 districts were facing serious problems due to the ‘above normal’ rains that had washed away bridges, roads and flooded gardens which resulted in food crops rotting.
He said in Amuria Katakwi, Bukedea, Ngora and parts of Serere in Teso, people were in dire need of food and clothing.
In the west, in Kisoro, Bundibugyo, Kasese and Kabarole districts, water sources including boreholes, were contaminated and communities were reporting increasing cases of pneumonia.
In Kibaale and Masindi, hailstorms destroyed gardens and people were left in desperate need of food.
The minister warned that according to the meteorology department, the rains would continue up to the end of October but would be followed by a dry spell to run from December to April 2011.
“We fear that we shall experience severe food shortages and famine in the coming months, since those who would have managed to harvest some food during this season might not have enough during the dry spell,†the minister said.
The planting season was supposed to start in February, but Ecweru says that will be the peak of the drought.
In Teso, water logging had led to the rotting of cassava and potato tubers.
Ecweru said many roads had been cut off and it was becoming impossible for the Government to transport relief items.
Other likely negative effects include increasing cases of malaria infections since water logged fields are breeding grounds for mosquitoes and exposure to water-borne diseases that come as a result of drinking contaminated water.
Ecweru added that some school buildings and pit latrines had sunk because many schools were located in low lying areas and in some places maggots from pit latrines were floating in school compounds. At Ameru Primary School in Katakwi, for example, the government relocated Primary Six and Seven pupils to Angolebwal.
The minister directed chief administrative officers to evaluate the damage and find out what was required in terms of cash and aid.
The most needed relief items include food, tarpaulins, polythene papers to serve as food drying carpets because the ground is soggy and blankets, water treatment tablets, blankets and mosquito nets.