KASESE – Homes and gardens have been destroyed after two more rivers burst their banks in Kasese District on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
River Rwembya in Kisinga and River lhubiriha in Bwera burst their banks, causing destruction on the side of Uganda and that of DR Congo. Residents of the area said nine people died in the process. We could not independently verify the claims. Area leaders are yet to give us their side of the story and we will bring you the details.
The flood comes a day after President Museveni on Wednesday, May 20 visited Kasese to assess the impact of the floods that hit the district about two weeks ago, causing massive destruction. Most parts of Nyamwamba and Bulembia Division in Kasese Municipality were flooded after River Nyamwamba burst its banks at about midnight following torrential rains that pounded the Rwenzori mountain rangers. Other rivers that also burst their banks wreaking havoc downstream are, Nyamugasani, Mubuku, Ssebwe, Rwimi and a number of streams across the district.
In the last seven years, rivers Nyamwamba, Mubuku, Sebwe, Rwimi, Nyamugasani, Kitakena and Maliba have burst their banks and destroyed human life, property, infrastructure, crops and livestock.
The rivers flooded on May 1, 2013, May 8, 2014, May 7, 2015 and July 1, 2015.
One of the key causes of the flooding is the silting of the rivers. However, no deliberate effort has been made by government to de-silt the rivers.
Silting narrows the river course and the surging water volumes burst the bank or change the course line.
