By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
The government of Uganda through the Ministry of Disaster preparedness has donated 60 tons of food to people who were affected by floods in Mbale city and Mbale district.
On Sunday, sweeping floods in Mt Elgon sub-region killed so far 26 people and displaced over 5000 as heavy rains pounded the area.
Floods struck following heavy rains on the slopes of Mount Elgon late on 31 July morning making River Nabuyonga, Namatala, Nashibiso, Nambale Rivers to burst their banks and the heavy flooding killed people, destroyed crops, houses and displaced a number of people.
According to Jimmy Ogwang, the Senior Preparedness Officer at the Ministry of disaster preparedness, the 60 tons are going to be shared by Mbale city and Mbale district.
Mr Ogwang said that Mbale city will get 20 tons of maize flour and 10 tons of beans and Mbale district will also get the same for people who were affected by the floods to use adding that government has also donated 150 Tauplines to Mbale city and the other 150 to Mbale district.
While speaking during the flagging off of these relief items, Mr Ahamada Washaki, the RCC Mbale asked the city officers who are going to distribute the items to give real affected people adding that the people affected should not also misuse them.
Mr Muhamed Mafabi, the LCV chairperson for Mbale district also urged the government under Uganda National Roads Authority to fix back the Nambale Bridge located at Bungokho Sub County along Mbale -Tororo main road which was destroyed by the floods.
He said if government does not intervene, the road will be cut off since the bridge is already collapsing inside.
Mr James Kinaba, the head of the national emergency coordination team eastern region urged people still living in disaster- prone areas to vacate since the rains are still on.
Meanwhile, Government is to give Shs5m to every family that lost a member in the recent Mbale floods.
Mr Ahamada Washaki, the RCC for Mbale disclosed this while speaking to the media during a press conference at Mbale city chambers on 2nd Aug 2022.
According to RCC Washaki, his office has compiled 20 names of people who died in the floods from Mbale city and 2 from Mbale district and has already sent them to the President for payment.
Meanwhile the RDC Mbale Ms Asumin Nasike has urged those families to be patient saying the money will soon be delivered to them.
She also urged people living in the disaster-prone areas like in Bungokho sub-county and Bumbobi to vacate to safe places since rains are still on.
