Residents uproot cassava in fear of floods
Uganda Red Cross Society volunteers prepare to hand over relief items to some of the residents who have been affected by floods in Omoro Sub-county, Alebtong District. PHOTO BY BILL OKETCH.
ALEBTONG. Farmers in Omoro Sub-county, Alebtong District have begun uprooting their cassava, fearing it might rot in gardens.
The move follows persistent rains that have caused flooding in the area.
Farmers who spoke to Daily Monitor said uprooting the cassava might save them from totally losing out as other crops have been washed away by floods.
As a measure, residents are drying their crops on roof tops and others have constructed high raise houses where they can temporarily sleep as they wait for floods to reduce.
The rains, which started last month, have pounded 46 villages in the parishes of Alolololo and Ocokober, destroying more than 75 households.
Three primary schools of Angicakide, Angem and Okomo, were destroyed and more than 2,000 have failed to return to school.
“The situation is pathetic. More than 75 households have nowhere to sleep and what to eat. Government should come to peoples’ rescue,” Mr David Kenney Odongo, the Alebtong District chairman, said.
The Alebtong District disaster preparedness committee chairperson, also the chief administrative officer, Mr Richard Alioka, said the district might be hit with food shortage in the long run.
Residents are also worried of contracting diseases, especially cholera with several streams and wells being contaminated.
Bishop Tom Ibrahim Okello, the president of Uganda Red Cross Society, said people should not to sit back but plant new gardens.
Helping victims
Relief items. Uganda Red Cross Society has been distributing relief items including blankets, mosquito net, jerricans, cups, bars of soap and tapelines to victims.
