Hundreds displaced as rains pound Albetong

A man wades through a flooded market in Lira Town last Friday. Rains have been pounding different parts of Uganda, causing flooding in many areas. PHOTO BY BILL OKETCH.

What you need to know:

The fear. Experts fear the rains could continue to pound much of Uganda throughout September.

ALEBTONG. Heavy rains have destroyed crops and displaced hundreds of former Internally Displaced Persons in Alebtong District.
The rains that started last month have pounded villages of Omanoabunga A, Omanoabunga B, Onuo and Olakotato in Omarari parish. Other villages include Olwero, Ajobi, Oringorwot and Alayaonenotur in Ocokober parish.
In Alolololo parish, floods have pounded villages of Angeta and Abukamola all in Omoro Sub-county.
A camp has been set at Omoro Sub-county to accommodate those whose houses have been destroyed and crops washed away.
The Omoro Sub-county community development officer, Mr Franco Ocwer Elit, said the rains have almost washed away all crops in the affected areas.
“Crops are rotting in the gardens and it may take long for the flood to subsidise,” he said.
There are also fears that diseases such as malaria, cholera and diarrhea-related illnesses, might break out, since all water points have been affected.
Mr Ocwer, said residents have been held up in remote villages and are currently cut off by water.
“Even those that are still in their homes, their lives are in danger, since the foundations of their houses have been weakened,” he said.
“I cannot move beyond my compound. I pray that no one falls sick because it would be a challenge to access treatment anywhere here. We have been cut off from roads,” he said.
This means that children cannot go to school yet many of them are expected to resume school today [Monday].
The Metrological Department in Entebbe last week announced that heavy rains could continue to pound much of the country throughout the month [September].
However, experts also warned that the rains would at the extreme continue up to December.
Mr James Bond Opok, the district vice-chairman, told Daily Monitor they would be forced to ask schools and parents to postpone opening the new term as the rains subsidise.

Most affected
Counting loses. Villages of Omanoabunga A, Omanoabunga B, Onuo and Olakotato in Omarari parish are some of the most affected areas. However in other villages including Olwero, Ajobi, Oringorwot and Alayaonenotur in Ocokober parish residents are also counting loses. In Alolololo parish, floods have pounded villages of Angeta and Abukamola all in Omoro Sub-county.
Expert analysis

The rains which started late last month are expected to continue through September or might go up to December. A number of areas, including Kampala, have experienced flooding as a result of the heavy rains.