The heavy downpour that started on Friday up to Saturday in Bundibujo claimed 22 lives after river Tokwe burst its banks leading to floods and landslides which wrecked homesteads according to the Prime Ministers Office.
“We have now recovered 22 bodies. Relief supplies arrived on Saturday night comprising food, blankets, jerrycans, buckets, mosquito nets, soap and spades for more than 700 survivors who are now in displacement,” Martin Owor, the Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness and Management in the Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement on Monday morning.
According to the Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson, Irene Nakasiita, the heavy rains left many places flooded whereas a number of people were displaced after their houses were washed away.
“The rain also left Rivers such as Nyalulu and other small streams flooded after bursting their banks. The main Fort Portal- Bundibugyo road and Nyahuka-Nudibugyo roads completely destroyed as well as other roads connecting from the town council. Houses, latrines, crop gardens, places of worship, and Cocoa gardens were also submerged,” Nakasiita said in a statement.
She said that a total of 12 sub-counties were adversely affected, with Harugale and Busaru the most affected.
According to the Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson, after recovering 16 dead bodies, they suspect many more are still missing but said impassable roads have made it difficult to reach some areas.
“Some of the missing bodies could not be retrieved at all whereas some of the victims were too far on mountain tops. There wasn’t enough food to serve to the people that have been sheltered at the churches and schools,” Nakasiita noted.
“Our teams remain committed to supporting all the people affected despite being constrained with resources. We are liaising with the Office of the Prime Minister to support the affected families.”