Uganda, Rwanda face brunt of nature as heavy rains leave scores dead, property lost
Uganda last month issued a disaster alert warning that parts of the country will face floods, landslides, mudslides, hailstorms, and lightning as the first rain season starts.
Heavy rains have left the borderline of Uganda and Rwanda in rubble and hundreds dead, thousands displaced and property destroyed.
Government agencies and the Red Cross have been busy much of this week trying to rescue human life and property in northern Rwanda and southern Uganda
The Rwanda Red Cross Thursday said it had recorded 130 deaths, 77 injuries, 5 missing persons, 5174 homes completely destroyed, and 2510 houses damaged. It said 400 Red Cross volunteers were providing support.
Kagame’s office said that some of the rescue work includes evacuation and temporary relocation of residents from affected and high-risk areas.
The latest weather forecast by the Rwanda Meteorology Agency indicated that the expected rainfall in many parts of the country would be slightly above the range of precipitation usually recorded in May.
According to a recent report by the ministry in charge of emergency management, more than 60 people were killed by disasters in the country between Jan. 1 and April 20.
In Uganda, the Uganda Red Cross on Wednesday reported six people, including five members of the same family, were killed by landslides triggered by torrential rains in several villages in Kisoro district, western Uganda.
Irene Nakasiita, spokesperson for the Uganda Red Cross Society, Thursday said validating of families affected by disasters in Kisoro was ongoing. “The relief distribution exercise for Kisoro landslides affected communities will take place tomorrow, Friday 5th May 2023,” she tweeted.
In a statement, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) informed Ugandans that the Kabale – Kisoro road had been affected the Hamurwa road section by a landslide triggered by the heavy rains. It diverted the traffic to the Kabale – Katuna – Rubaya – Muko road – an 88km stretch – for travellers going to Kisoro.
The other alternative, UNRA said, was the Kabale – Lake Bunyonyi road which requires driving to Kachwekano junction (44km), and then turning right to Kachwekano – Kagarama through Rubona. This leads to Hisesero/muko (20km); from here motorists can then drive along the Kabale – Kisoro highway to Kisoro.
We continue to appeal to road users across the country to take precautions, avoid using flooded areas for their safety, and report flooding incidents for emergency action, UNRA said.
Uganda last month issued a disaster alert warning that parts of the country will face floods, landslides, mudslides, hailstorms, and lightning as the first rain season starts.
According to the Ministry for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, parts of eastern, central, and western regions and the Lake Victoria basin would experience near-normal to above-normal forms of rainfall up to May.
Heavy rainfall is likely to lead to the destruction of farmland, crops and a surge of water-related diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery and malaria.
