A heavy rainfall on April 17, 2024, had tragic consequences in Nanso B village, Nyenga division, Buikwe district. The downpour resulted in the loss of life for a one-year-old child and rendered numerous residents homeless.
Edisa Nakayenze, aged 60, recounted the events, stating that the rain began in the middle of the night as they were getting ready for bed. She mentioned that at the time, there were three people in their home. When their roof was blown away by the strong winds, they sought refuge in their neighbor’s house for the remainder of the night. Unfortunately, their own house was also destroyed, causing significant damage to their belongings.
Sharif Kitambula, another resident, reported the heartbreaking loss of one-year-old Jasmine Munafu. Debris from a collapsing house fatally injured the child while she was with her parents.
Moses Onsonga, the village chairperson, provided further insight, revealing that 22 houses in the village were affected by the heavy rains. These houses suffered damage ranging from roof loss to complete destruction.
In addition to property damage, the rainfall also wreaked havoc on crops and plantations in the area. Moses Onsonga expressed deep concern about the lack of shelter for those displaced by the disaster.
Pastor Moses Bbamu Waiswa, the Nyenga division chairperson, raised alarm about the potential food shortage the affected residents might face due to the loss of crops. The devastation caused by the rain is likely to exacerbate this issue.
Jimmy Kanaabi, the chairperson of Buikwe district, called upon the government to allocate funds for disaster preparedness at the district level. He emphasized the importance of timely assistance and urged the Prime Minister’s Office to provide roofing materials to help the affected residents rebuild their homes.
