By;
Kabugho
Sharon
Communication
officer
After 2 days of Intensive
visit to the most affected major infrastructure in the District, State Minister
for Works Hon Peter Lokeris has promised government intervention to rectify the
damages caused by the floods. This
followed the President’s visit on 20th May 2020 who according to the
Minister, tasked all the relevant Ministries to make an immediate assessment of
the damages caused by the floods that repeatedly occurred on 7th ,10th
and 21st May destructing a
lot of property, government infrastructure and leaving over 10,000 people displaced
.
During the brief
meeting after the field visit with the Ministry of Works’ technical team led by
the Director of Engineering and Engineer in Chief Eng. Samson Bagonza, UNRA
technical staff, District technical staff and the Local leaders led by District
Chairperson which took place at UNRA Kasese offices on 26th May
2020, the Minister promised Government intervention in 3 phases; 1. The Immediate Intervention which will
focus on areas that are life threatening to take about 1-2 weeks, 2nd
is the Midterm intervention to take
like 3-4 months and long term
interventions which will focus on making a detailed assessment and
mitigating the problem right from the source.
 |
| Rwentare bridge in Katwe TC |
The Minister also
tasked the technical team to act swiftly to mitigate the calamities that are
likely to raise out of the Disaster and he appreciated the affected communities
for responding first to put temporary solutions to the problems especially the
Isango Community in Kitholhu for the tireless effort to put up a temporary foot
bridge.
Government response
has been observed right from the first day the floods hit Kasese on 7th
May 2020 where the minister for Disaster Management Hon. Musa Echweru came to
Kasese to see the situation who later on delegated Brigadier General Stephen
Oluka to support the District Disaster Management Committee and through him
government was able to deliver relief items to the displaced people in the
district and right on 20th May 2020, the head of state H.E Yoweri K.
Museveni also came to Kasese to assess the situation and held a meeting with
the district stakeholders focusing the disaster solutions .
The Minister has been
able to reach 13 affected sites including Nyamugasani Bridge in Kiburara ,
Lhubiriha Bridge connecting Uganda to Congo, Isango Bridge connecting Karambi
to Kitholhu Subcounty, Rwentare Bridge in Nyakatonzi, Kilembe Hospital ,
Kyanzuki Bridge in Bulembia, Kilembe Mines offices and mechanical Workshop, Water intake plant for kilembe
mines in Ibanda - Nyakalenginjo where a foot bridge was also swept, Ibanda-
Kyanya Bridge where water swept the bridge approach and damaged the bridge
abutment , Kitakena Bridge which was constructed after 2013 floods , Maliba-
Kyanya road which was destructed by river
Mubuku and Kitakena when the floods merged at Katindo village and Kyinyayobyo Armco
culvert Bridge in Karusandara .
 |
| Katindo village where Mubuku floods merged with River Kitakena destroying the road the road , houses and gardens. |
In addition he made a courtesy visit to 2
camps in Maliba and Karusandara subcounty.
Though the Country is
over whelmed with disasters, Kasese District appreciates the Government and
development partners at local, national and international level for the
tireless efforts to support the District to get through this and there is hope
as the
government continues to intervene.
