Butare – Katojo Town Council in Rubanda District is facing devastation after heavy rains pounded the area for eight hours, leaving destruction in its wake. A number of homes were washed away, crops and roads were destroyed, leaving families without shelter or food. Tragically, three lives were lost in the chaos.
In the midst of chaos, over ten houses remain as eerie reminders of a powerful rainstorm, now reduced to piles of rubble and scattered debris. The once lively gardens that provided food and income have been completely washed away, leaving families feeling hopeless and unsure. With no place to live and their main source of food destroyed, people are facing a frightening situation, not knowing what will happen next.
Alex Ahimbisibwe and Letenciya Tubangire, residents of Bugarama Village in Butare – Katojo Town Council, are among the victims of last night’s heavy downpour and mudslides that struck their houses and crops, destroying them. These say that they are currently stranded and unsure of what to do next, having sought shelter in the neighborhood. Additionally, they express concern about hunger, as their crops were also destroyed.
Sophia Twinomwe, another victim of the heavy downpour, shares that their house, which was still under construction and sheltering their children, was destroyed. She recounts that during the rains, when they became suspicious, they asked the children to move to the old house where they usually stay. Twinomwe adds that immediately after relocating the children amidst the heavy downpour, a mudslide struck and destroyed the upper part of the house. She also mentions that the rushing water destroyed their crop gardens, which were their main source of school fees for their children and food for both subsistence and commercial purposes.
Angella Kamagajo reveals that the heavy rains destroyed her Irish potato crop garden, from which she anticipated a harvest worth more than 3 million.
Henry Mugisha and Vicent Kagoma, the LC 1 chairperson for Bugarama Village, state that the roads have become impassable due to the heavy rains, which has disrupted the transportation of goods to marketplaces and tourists to their destinations. The locals are requesting government intervention to help them relocate and provide food supplies, as their property has been massively destroyed.
Stephen Kasyaba, Rubanda District LC5 Chairperson, acknowledges the significant losses suffered by the locals, including loss of lives. He mentions that they are mobilizing emergency response efforts, working tirelessly to provide shelter, food, and support to the displaced families. However, challenges persist as resources are strained to meet the overwhelming needs of the affected population.
He, however, openly confronts the government for centralizing the emergency funds, emphasizing that this process often takes too long to appeal. He reveals that for years, Rubanda District has been requesting these funds without success. He stresses the importance of the government allocating these funds directly to local districts for proper planning and effective assistance to the locals.
Kigezi Sub Region being prone to such natural disasters has left communities in urgent need of assistance and support. With homes destroyed, crops lost, and livelihoods shattered, the affected residents are relying on prompt and effective intervention from the government.
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