At least 10 people have been confirmed dead after floods and landslides ravaged several areas in Eastern Uganda including Mbale, Kapchorwa, Sironko and Bulambuli districts.
According to the Uganda Red Cross (URC) PRO Irene Nakasita, 7 of the victims died in Mbale while 3 victims died in Kapchorwa district. She said the floods and landslides were triggered by prolonged heavy rains which started about 8PM on Saturday 30th July 2022 leading to flooding in the areas of Mbale, Kapchorwa, and Sironko Districts.
The floods also caused extensive property damage, especially around the areas located along Mbale – Kumi road at Nabijjo cell, Namakwekwe ward, Northern Division, while Mbale City was over flooded by river Nabuyonga that swept two motor vehicles with an unknown number of occupants that were trying to cross the road.
The most affected areas include 3 villages; Namabasa, Bugwere Cell, Bungoko subcounty Mbale District, Kapsida subcounty, chemalim village, Tuyobei Parisi in Kapchorwa District, and villages of Town council village, Busambya, Bumukha, Doko, Nabirete, Dorcus, Bukiyende, Namirende in 2 Subcounties of Bukise and Sironko in Sironko District.
In Mbale, River Nabuyonga and Namastyo burst their banks causing landslides in Wanale leading to destruction of houses, roads and other property.
In Bulambuli district, the affected villages include Diwadwala, Busiyango, Buyakha, Bunabalayo, Kori, Sipi, Bumugoya in Dwikhonge Sub-county, Duwadwala Parish.
According to police, five bodies had been retrieved, while seven people have been rescued. Four of the deceased have been identified as Tamunoza Doreen aged 24 years, Namukhula 15, Khalayi 13 and Masaba Ayub 30 while one is yet to be identified. The deceased are all pending postmortem examination at Mbale City Mortuary.
Police and Red Cross teams are doing their best to rescue more victims of the floods.
According to a disaster response report by URC, their teams in Districts/areas of Butaleija, Soroti, Katakwi, Amuria are on high alert as heavy rains continue to pound the region.