KASESE – A UPDF soldier was confirmed dead after being swept away by floods that hit Kasese and Bundibugyo districts on Wednesday night.
The unidentified soldier, who was deployed along the Busunga border post in Bundibugyo District, drowned in the floods that saw River Lamia burst its banks.
Capt Edwin Mawanda, the spokesperson of the Mountain Division of the UPDF, confirmed the incident.
“It’s unfortunate that we have lost one soldier as a result of floods on river Lamia, we managed to rescue three our three soldiers, crops and property in the area has been destroyed,” said Capt Mawanda.
In a related incident, the flood water that swept away homes in Kilembe Sub County, Kasese District, also submerged Kilembe Mines Hospital, leading to the death of a patient who was on oxygen.
Dr Edward Wafula, the Hospital Medical Superintendent, said that water swept away the mortuary and the children ward.
He said over 200 patients were still stuck in some parts of the hospital.
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 wrecking havoc downstream are, Nyamugasani, Mubuku, Ssebwe, Rwimi and a number of streams across the district.
The State Minister for Disaster and Preparedness, Mr Musa Ecweru, was on Thursday, May 7, 2020 shocked at the trail of destruction left behind by the floods that pounded Kasese District.
And as the minister toured severely affected areas such as Kilembe, Kyanzuki, Katiri, Basecamp, Acholi-quarters, Maliba-Kyanya, Musasa-Kyalhumba, Habitant, Road-barrier, Kanyangeya, Ibanda, Karusandara, Kibuga and Kivengenyi, the reality of the devastation struck him. For a long period as he toured with area leaders, he did not talk. He only observed houses being swept away by the floods while others are still emerged.
Schools such as Nadir preparatory, Liberty College, Rwenzori College of Commerce, Grandmothers’ arm, Five Star, Kasese Muslim and Mawa market were all submerged.
The flash floods also cut off Kasese-Fort Portal main road at Nyamwamba bridge.
Mr Ecweru also met several helpless residents who are stranded with no where to go after their homes were either submerged or swept away by the water.
He appealed to the district authorities to relocate the affected residents to dry areas and house them at schools and churches as government arranges relief support such as tents and food.
Godfrey Kabyanga, the Kasese Municipality Mayor, said together with area leaders they are working on relocating affected residents to safer areas.