A heavy rain downpour on Mt Elgon and its slopes caused the bursting of river banks and flooding in Kapchorwa and Mbale, killing at least 10 people and leaving several others missing.
In Kapchorwa and Mbale, at least ten people have been confirmed dead and several others are missing following heavy rains that flooded river banks and caused rivers to burst.
According to Irene Nakasiita, Director of Communications and Partnerships Red Cross Team, heavy and extended rains started about 8 pm on 30th July 2022 in Eastern Uganda leading to flooding in the areas of Mbale, Kapchorwa, and Sironko.
Nakasiita said seven people have been confirmed dead in Mbale while three died in Kapchorwa. She said the most affected areas include Namabasa, Bugwere Cell, and Bungoko sub-county.
Others affected include Kapsida subcounty, Chemalim village, Tuyobei Parish, villages around Sironko Town Council, Bukise S/C, Busambya, Bumukha, Doko, Nabirete, Dorcus, Bukiyende, Namirende, Dwikhonge S/C, Duwadwala Parish: Villages of Diwadwala, Busiyango, Buyakha, Bunabalayo, Kori, Sipi, and Bumugoya.
She, however, mentioned that they have deployed a number of ambulances to support emergency evacuations. These have also been coupled with more than 20 Response Action Teams deployed to support rapid needs assessment.
Nakasiita cautioned nearby communities to take heed and also keep on alert saying that the disaster could easily cross over to them. She also raised data on more households and people affected will be available in due course.
Speaking earlier on the Public Relations Officer Elgon Region, ASP Rogers Taitika said the bodies of the dead persons had been retrieved, while seven people had also been rescued in Mbale.
He said the floods also caused extensive property damage, especially around the areas located along Mbale – Kumi road at Nabijjo cell, Namakwekwe ward, Northern Division, while Mbale City was over flooded by river Nabuyonga that swept two motor vehicles with an unknown number of occupants that were trying to cross the road.
“Four of the deceased have been identified as Tamunoza Doreen aged 24 years, Namukhula 15, Khalayi 13 and Masaba Ayub 30 while one is yet to be identified. The deceased are all pending postmortem examination at Mbale City Mortuary,” Taitika said.
He raised the police with the help of the Red Cross teams are doing their best to rescue more victims of the floods.
“Our sympathies are with those affected by this disaster. The public living along riverbanks are advised to remain vigilant and move to safer spaces since these floods are unpredictable,” Taitika added.
