3 sub-counties ravaged by floods

FLOODS|KALAKI |LAKE KYOGA

KALAKI - Rising water levels on Lake Kyoga have ravaged three sub-counties in Kalaki district, leaving over 1,400 people helpless.

Scores of residents have fled their homes for safety. Some stay with relatives, while others have rented small units in trading centres. 

The LC1 chairperson of Akura village in Kakure sub-county, Kalaki district, Charles Ochung, said the water levels started rising five months ago, but residents did not take it seriously. 

Ochung said the most affected sub-counties are Kalaki, Bululu and Kakure. 

Florence Engoru, a resident of Akura village, said the rising waters have paralysed transport since roads have been cut off. 

Engoru said children in candidate classes from the affected sub-counties were finding it hard to access schools and are worried about how they will sit their examinations. 

Engoru said she realised earlier that water levels were going up and left the village before the situation could get worse. 

Those who remained behind are now crying out for assistance to be evacuated as more homes get submerged. 

Another resident, Rogers Ajaro, said pregnant mothers are finding it hard to access antenatal services and the nearby areas have started reporting cases of waterborne diseases. 

"Crops, including cassava, groundnuts, simsim, maize, potatoes and millet have all been destroyed, exposing our families to hunger," Ajaro said. 

The chief administrative officer of Kalaki, William Emunyu, appealed to the Government and other development partners to extend assistance to the suffering communities in the district. 

Emunyu was speaking after delivering assorted relief items from the Uganda Red Cross at Apungure Primary School. 

He said it has become difficult for the residents to access social services, adding that the health sector is facing challenges of increasing cases of waterborne diseases. 

"We have written to line ministries but up to now there has been no response yet our people are in danger," he said. 

The Uganda Red Cross head of communications, Irene Nakasita, said they have been able to extend assistance to only 200 households in the affected sub-counties. 

"We are lucky that no person has lost life, but according to what we have seen, more people are bound to be killed by these rising waters," she said.