Kasese Floods: Kilembe Mines Hospital closes
One of the patients who were evacuated from the hospital. Photo by Enid Ninsiima
What you need to know:
Mr Gad Baluku, an employee of Kilembe Mines Limited is still missing.
Floods that hit Kasese Municipality Wednesday, killing at least four people and destroying property worth billions of shillings have caused the closure of Kilembe Mines Hospital.
The floods were triggered by a heavy downpour that caused River Nyamwamba to burst its banks.
“We have had a big problem at Kilembe Mines hospital and 195 patients have been evacuated to other hospitals. Fifty staff units were washed away. We have temporarily closed the hospital until we rectify the problem,” Dr Edward Wafula, the superintendent of the medical facility said.
He said the kitchen, the mortuary, the private wing and equipment, including the recently-acquired X- ray machine were destroyed.
“We have no power and water at the hospital,” he said.
Dr Wafula, however, said no deaths or injuries were recorded at the hospital since patients and workers were rescued in time.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of Uganda Red Cross Kasese Branch, Mr Joseph Zukwa said three bodies of people who died in the floods have been recovered.
Those who died are Paddy Kalusu, a former District Procurement Officer, a one Kibusu, a primary school teacher and one Kabugho, a mentally-sick woman.
Mr Gad Baluku, an employee of Kilembe Mines Limited is still missing.
The floods displaced about 800 people, according to Mr Zukwa.
