Houses, crops destroyed as storm ravages Jinja
Residents assess the damage of one of the houses that collapsed at Bulondo village. Photo by Yazid Yolisigira
What you need to know:
- The LCI vice chairman of Bugobya village, Mr Abasa Baliruno, said about 20 houses were destroyed in his village alone, adding that if government doesn’t intervene, the area is most likely to face famine.
- Sarah Kambeda, whose house was brought down by the storm at Busede village, said two of her children sustained injuries as they struggled to run out of the house.
Several acres of both food and cash crops have been ravaged and several houses destroyed by a hailstorm that hit Busede Sub-county in Jinja District. Mr Charles Kanabi, the area district councilor, said the hailstorm that hit more than seven villages last Saturday followed a heavy down pour that lasted several hours.
The most affected villages include Bugobya, Busede, Bulondo,Bugaya,Nanfugaki,Namazingiri and Kasita.
Mr Kanabi said several acres of maize,beans,ground nuts,cassava and potatoes were destroyed while more than 10 people sustained injuries as houses collapsed on them.
The injured were rushed to different health centres for treatment. Mrs Fatiya Muluta, a resident of Bugobya village, said the heavy down pour accompanied by a strong wind and hailstorm started at about 4.00pm and hit for about three hours.
A man assesses the damage of his garden following the storm. Photo by by Yazid Yolisigira
“We had taken several weeks without getting rain and when it started, I saw it as a blessing. It, however, turned into a disaster and has dashed our hopes for a bumper harvest,” Mrs Muluta told this newspaper.
The LCI vice chairman of Bugobya village, Mr Abasa Baliruno, said about 20 houses were destroyed in his village alone, adding that if government doesn’t intervene, the area is most likely to face famine.
Ms Sarah Kambeda, whose house was brought down by the storm at Busede village, said two of her children sustained injuries as they struggled to run out of the house.
“My children were injured as the house caved in. My husband is ill and I cannot afford to put back the house,”she said as she appealed to the government for help.
