(Katakwi) – Intense and prolonged rains have caused severe flooding in Katakwi and Kumi districts, displacing hundreds of residents from their homes and raising urgent concerns over sanitation, disease, and food security in affected areas.
The heavy rainfall has left entire villages submerged, with flooded homes and damaged farmland forcing many to seek temporary shelter in churches and schools. Villages in the Palam and Ngarium sub-counties in Katakwi are among the worst affected. According to local reports, 78 villages in Ngarium and 104 villages in Palam are now struggling with waterlogged conditions, which have rendered homes and community spaces unsafe.
Displaced residents taking shelter at Palam Primary School are facing overcrowded conditions with inadequate sanitation facilities. Headmistress Kulume Florence described how she has been clearing classrooms early each morning so students can resume their lessons, highlighting the strain on the school’s limited resources due to the influx of evacuees.
Elizabeth Acom, the Sub-county Chief for Ngarium, spoke to the severe toll the floods have taken on local agriculture and infrastructure. “In Ngarium, 12,627 gardens have been destroyed, affecting 233 households,” Acom reported, noting that eight boreholes have been damaged, making it difficult for residents to access clean water. She emphasized the need for immediate assistance to address critical water and sanitation needs.
Table: Impacts of Flooding in Katakwi District
| Area | Villages Affected | Gardens Destroyed | Households Impacted | Boreholes Damaged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ngarium | 78 | 12,627 | 233 | 8 |
| Palam | 104 | Unreported | Unreported | Unreported |
Minister of State Peter Ogwang further underscored the urgent nature of the crisis, warning that 98% of homes in Palam are at risk of collapsing due to water damage. “The situation here is critical, with widespread destruction,” Ogwang stated, calling for immediate intervention from development partners to provide relief and restore essential infrastructure.
In Kumi District, similar conditions have been reported. Ongino Sub-county LC3 Chairman, Charles Aisu, noted that 25 villages in his region have experienced severe flooding. Aisu cautioned that, without prompt action, the floods could trigger outbreaks of disease and severe food shortages, urging the government to provide tarpaulins and other essential supplies to help the displaced families.
Local leaders are calling on the government and international aid agencies to respond quickly to avert further health risks, displacement, and potential environmental damage in the affected regions as floodwaters continue to disrupt lives across Katakwi and Kumi,
