Government warns families to move from Waterways following weekend Floods ion Mbale

Families residing in the hills, valleys, and landslide-prone areas in Mbale and Kapchorwa have been urged by the Minister of Relief, Disaster and Preparedness Esther Anayakun, to leave all the potential waterways to avoid losing more lives.

On Sunday morning, the country woke up to bad news after torrential rains battered areas of Bugisu and Sebei. More than 20 lives were lost in the floods following the bursting of River Nabuyonga, caused by the heavy rains.

Hon Anyakun says that as a Ministry, they have already dispatched disaster rapid response teams to make assessments and these are working together with Uganda Red Cross.

She added that the rains have caused a lot of havoc that is beyond individual and community capacity.

The Saturday night rains were also characterized by violent windstorms, hailstorms, and lightning strikes that destroy life, and crops, rise in water levels in rivers and lakes and landslide occurrences.

In 2021, over a million people were affected by floods.

“As a Ministry and Development Partners, we are going to do everything possible to get the necessary help to reach those affected. We request families that are in safe zones to host affected families- those in dangerous areas as more rain days could cause more disaster effects. We ask the district disaster management Committees to sit immediately so that they have the information needed. We stand with the affected people. Help is on its way but keep safe” she noted.