One dead as floods ravage Kasese

By Wilson Asiimwe

A 38-year old resident of Kibuga Zone in Karusandara Sub County, Kasese district, was on Thursday afternoon killed following fresh floods which left several properties destroyed and animals killed.

The victim, Ronald Bizimungu, was distilling local gin (Kasese waragi) when he was swept away by floods.

The floods followed a heavy downpour that caused River Mubuku to bust its banks destroying several houses.

“It’s very unfortunate that we have lost our colleague because they were five of them but the four ran as fast as they could when the river started flooding.

"For him he got trapped in the floods and got washed away,” said Michael Businge, a resident of Kibuga.

The area has always been hit hard by floods

Several people lost their property, including animals causing severla to flee to neighboring villages.

“All roads have been cut off; there is no vehicle accessing the area and we have been forced to temporarily relocate,” said Businge.

Masika Grace, a resident of Kanamba, expressed fear of famine after floods washed away several acres of crops.

“All our gardens have been destroyed, we have been left with nothing to harvest and we expect this area to be hit by severe famine soon,” said Masika.

Karusandara, just near Kasese, was one of the hardest hit areas in the May 2013 floods. Located in a valley, waters from rivers Mubuku, Ssebwe and Hima end up there.

Ezra Turyahabwe, the LC III chairman for Karusandara Sub County, said that government needs to find an alternative land and relocate residents.

“We have lost very many people as a result of the floods and I would like to appeal to the government to find an alternative land and relocate all the people living near the river,” said Turyahabwe.

By press time local divers had started the search for their missing colleague.