Stern action needed to end city floods
Aug 23, 2010
Property worth millions of shillings was destroyed following the Sunday afternoon downpour in Kampala. The worst hit areas were Busaabala suburb and the areas around the Electoral Commission offices on Jinja Road, Mukwano Industries in the Industrial Area and Fire Bridgade offices on Entebbe Road.
Property worth millions of shillings was destroyed following the Sunday afternoon downpour in Kampala. The worst hit areas were Busaabala suburb and the areas around the Electoral Commission offices on Jinja Road, Mukwano Industries in the Industrial Area and Fire Bridgade offices on Entebbe Road.
Although there were no recorded deaths or injuries, this should serve as a wake-up call for Kampala City Council (KCC) and other stakeholders to fix the city’s perennial flood problem before it gets out of hand. In the case of Busaabala, for instance, a proper drainage system would have saved about 100 homes from flooding.
Every year there are reports of flooding in and around the city. In fact city suburbs like Bwaise and Kalerwe have become synonymous with floods. The situation in these areas has degenerated so much so that several houses have been abandoned.
It does not help matters that most drainage systems around the city are clogged with plastic bottles and plastic bags. As a stop-gap measure KCC should embark on a serious campaign to unblock these drainage channels, widen others and create them where none exist.
In the long run the city body may have to consider instituting heavy penalties as a deterrent to poor garbage disposal which is partly to blame for the floods. There is no doubt that better garbage disposal management will translate into clearer drainage channels and a cleaner city.
Incidentally, the flooding problem is further compounded by developers who have reclaimed wetlands around the city oblivious of the negative environmental impact on surrounding areas.
While the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has on occasion, stopped some developers who flout the rules, there is need for more vigilance. Only then shall we save the wetlands and avert the consequences of being complacent.
Although there were no recorded deaths or injuries, this should serve as a wake-up call for Kampala City Council (KCC) and other stakeholders to fix the city’s perennial flood problem before it gets out of hand. In the case of Busaabala, for instance, a proper drainage system would have saved about 100 homes from flooding.
Every year there are reports of flooding in and around the city. In fact city suburbs like Bwaise and Kalerwe have become synonymous with floods. The situation in these areas has degenerated so much so that several houses have been abandoned.
It does not help matters that most drainage systems around the city are clogged with plastic bottles and plastic bags. As a stop-gap measure KCC should embark on a serious campaign to unblock these drainage channels, widen others and create them where none exist.
In the long run the city body may have to consider instituting heavy penalties as a deterrent to poor garbage disposal which is partly to blame for the floods. There is no doubt that better garbage disposal management will translate into clearer drainage channels and a cleaner city.
Incidentally, the flooding problem is further compounded by developers who have reclaimed wetlands around the city oblivious of the negative environmental impact on surrounding areas.
While the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has on occasion, stopped some developers who flout the rules, there is need for more vigilance. Only then shall we save the wetlands and avert the consequences of being complacent.