Locals Cry Foul As Floods Destroy Property, Gardens In Bulambuli

By Frank Kamuntu

 Bulambuli: People who were transferred to Bulambuli district after surviving the Bududa mudslides are now crying because of the floods in their new area, which have destroyed gardens, houses and killed animals.

In the past few days torrential rains have ravaged the district, leaving several people in areas of Bunangaka, Bufuhula, Nabongo, Bufumbula, Buwakol and Bumasoho parishes in Nabongo Sub-counties affected.

Innocent Wandabwa, who is the District Environment Department Officer revealed that floods caused by heavy Sunday rains destroyed property like houses, animals, and crops in Sisyi, Simu, Bulaago, Bukaalu, Muyembe, and Nabongo Sub-counties.

Whereas residents say these deadly floods were a result of heavy rains, the situation has been worsened by running water from stone quarries owned by Kampala and Tororo Cement factories respectively, where deep ditches were left open after the quarrying.

Residents added that some of the ditches that were used as far as 1998 have now turned into man-made lakes covering over 10 acres of land which have made the soils soft, making the area susceptible to flooding.

However, Robert Mauka Wanzusi, the Nabongo Sub-xounty LC III chairperson, said that water from the stone quarries floods the lower parts of the district. 

Nathan Weliche, LC II chairperson Bunangaka parish, whose house has also been affected, said most of the flood victims are currently sleeping at Bunangaka primary school while others have sought refuge in their neighbors’ homes. He appealed to government to respond to their plight as soon as possible.

One of the affected residents Fred Simiti, of Bunangaka parish, said that his 10 children cheated death after they were nearly drowned in the floods.