2019 has without a doubt been the coldest and wettest year in Uganda in a long time. Rain has fallen almost all year long, even in those months that were labelled as the dry season.
Elnino rains that have been showering over Uganda almost daily in the past three months intensified as December set in, causing massive landslides in different regions in the country that have displaced thousands of people and killed hundreds, blocking traffic by cutting off roads and bridges.
The most affected regions are those surrounding Mt Elgon in the North East, Bundibujjo, the villages of Namasa, Naposhi and shukururu in Bushika sub-county of Bududa district, Sironko, and Butaleja, with a number of villages in the districts of Bukedea, Serere, Ngora, Katakwi, Amuria, Kapelebyong, Tororo and Otuke fully submerged.
The Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Management estimates that an excess of 100,000 people have been displaced ever since the rains started this year, with over 120000 hectares of cropland destroyed but a detailed assessment is taking place to determine exact numbers of houses and livelihood assets were lost.
In response of this, Government has released Shs20 billion to support emergency response to all the affected people. This is in addition to the 100 roles of tarpaulins, 5,000 pieces of blankets, 5,000 pieces of sleeping-mats, 1,500 pieces of jerricans, 500 cartons of soap, 2,000 pieces of buckets and 2,000 pieces of spades that had been earlier procured for rapid response.
Released under the Office of the Prime Minister, the money will be used to provide life-saving interventions, emergency relief support, and speeding up relocation.
“Government has released Shs20 billion for emergency procurement of inflatable boats, tarpaulins, blankets, relief food, drugs for water borne diseases and culverts for fixing washed away bridges under the life-saving and rescue phase (Nov 2019 – Jan 2020) of the flooding/landslides situation,” says a statement read by Musa Ecweru, Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness and Management in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The government has warmed that the risk of more flooding and landslides is real and urged the population to keep away from river banks, steep slopes and desist from walking or allowing bodaboda riders and cars carry them across flooded sections of roads and bridges, as well as reporting all emergencies to a toll-free line: 0800177777.
A Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) will be conducted in January 2020 to determine total level of damage and losses and actions for the Recovery and Reconstruction.