The rising water levels in Lake Victoria and River Kagera have submerged several households at Kasensero landing site, Rakai District.
The floods that were triggered by the persistent seasonal rainfall
have displaced more than 400 people from the villages of Kagera Cell 8, and 10.
The fish sorting plant which was built under the European Union fund has also
been submerged.
Francis Ssekiwunga, the Kagera Cell 8 Chairperson, says that some residents
have temporarily shifted to nearby villages, while others have completely relocated
to safer areas.
According to Ssekiwunga, the floods are similar to those that occurred
in June 2020 and displaced over 1,000 residents in the same parish.
//Cue in: “Mangi nnyo, omugga era…
Cue Out: “…abalina
gyebalaga batambudde.”//
Yassin Ssentamu, the Kagera Cell 10 Chairperson, says the floods
have disrupted various activities at the landing site since most of the access
roads and buildings have been submerged.
He says the displaced families, some of which have been living in
makeshift houses, have nowhere to go.
Alex Bbanda, a landlord near Kagera River says he is worried that
the floods will damage her houses and even scare away his clients. He says that
the majority of his tenants have abandoned the houses without paying rent.
Francis Kato, the in-charge of Kasensero HCIII, says that the
facility is flooded which has forced the health workers and patients to abandon the facility. He adds residents in the area will struggle to access services and will force many of them to resort to services in private health facilities.
//Cue in: “Ate kumwalo atetegayinza…
Cue Out: “…compound lujjudde amazzi .”//
Resty Birungi, a resident of Kagera cell 10 says that she is
worried about an epidemic outbreak saying the landing site is littered with
garbage and human waste as a result of poor hygiene practices.
Jamiru Kiyingi, the Kyotera Natural Resources Officer, attributed
the increasing floods in Kasensero to people who encroached on the banks of the
lake.
Davis Buyondo
Freelancer