Over 3000 Bbaale Constituents Affected By Floods, Area Legislator Writes To Prime Minister for Quick Intervention
The heavy rains that lead to increase of Lake Victoria and Kyoga water levels in previous years did not spare the residents of Bbaale Constituency in Kayunga District.
Since 2018, over four parishes in the Constituency have been battling with floods and prolonged draught which heavily affected their livelihood.
After receiving a number of petitions from his constituents, the Area Legislator, Hon. Charles Tebandeke carried out personal research and found out that at least 3,758 people have been affected.
The most parishes that were affected by this disaster include; Ntimba, Kirasa, , Galiraya, Namalere, Namayuge and Misanga.
Basing on the report, the Area MP, Charles Tebandeke, on Tuesday,20, July 2021, officially wrote to Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja through the Minister of Disaster, Relief, Preparedness and Refugee in the OPM to immediately intervention before the situation completely worsens.
The legislator commended for; Tents to provide temporal shelter for the families that have been rendered homeless,Clothing, blankets, beds, mattresses and mosquito nets to help the victims,Temporal or mobile portable pit latrines to ensure sanitation, Relief Items in form of food, soap, match boxes and cooking oils, Relocation of the affected communities to safer places, Mobile health care provider to help the population, Need to constitute a committee to investigate the causes of floods and management flow of water on our water bodies and river Nile.”
Full Report for Hon. Tebandeke
Hon. Minister on behalf of my self and residents of BBAALE CONSTITUENCY, I welcome you and your delegation. Bbaale CONSTITUENCY is surrounded by water bodies and the predominant activity is fishing, agriculture and pastoralism.
In received petitions and appeal from the local residents in my Constituency especially those living along the lake shores who have been affected by the floods due to rising water levels from the lake which flooded their gardens, homes and the whole of human survival. This has been worsened by the subsequent prolonged droughts since 2018 and covid19 guide lines which restrictions on movements.
I received a petition from the local leadership of the residents, and about 3, 758 people have been affected by floods and prolonged draught.
Upon receipt of the petition, I went to the ground and met the local leadership, and my findings were as follows:
1. The rising water level or flooding and prolonged draught has permanently affected the residents of Ntimba, Kirasa, , Galiraya, Namalere, Namayuge and Misang parishes and preliminary report put the affected population at 3,758 people.
2. The estimated population affected per parish which can be subjected to further verifications are as follows:
a) Ntimba Parish has 814 affected residents.
b) Kirasa has 437 affected residents
c) Kasokye has 744
d) Galiraya has 780
e) Namalere has 657
f) Mayuge has 326 and,
g) Misanga has 137
3. The affected families were mostly peasant, fishermen and farmers holding bibanja and had lived in the area since childhood, most them acquired the bibanjas through inheritance and had ancestral burial grounds on the land.
4. The flooding and prolonged draught has affected the whole life style as it drove away the residents from their homes, washed away gardens, shelter collapsed and it extinguished any economic livelihood of the population.
5. There is already a food crisis, hunger, landless, lack of shelter and a looming health crisis or disaster as a result of floods and draught which has been worsened by covid 19.
6. The Government public utilities and other social infrastructure including access roads were washed away by the floods including schools, bore halls, health facilities and various place of worship which used to form part of the community.
7. There is a current crisis of lack of food, shelter, housing, soap, Sault and access to clean and safe drinking water, health, sanitation facilities like toilets, and many of social amenities were swept away by the water.
8. The life of the vulnerable groups like children, elderly, women and HIV/Aids positives are at a risk.
9. Other communicable disease and health crisis on top of the current co to coronavirus crisis may arrive if the basic health care need is not addressed promptly.
10. The contiguous cause of flooding affecting my Constituency is associated to environmental related issues and uncontrolled level of silting on the main water ways that used to ensure the natural flow of water from our water bodies. The water channel that used to ensure safe passage of water to Sudan and Egypt at Kayeye and Kayango in the Blue Nile region appears to have been blocked. This affects normal flow of water forcing it to bounce back cause floods.
11. This is even worsened by former floating island on our inland water in points such as Wamukooma in Kayunga, kitaizi, Mpigire and Nangaale in Serere, Nawampiti and Iyingo in Busoga. This interfere with normal water flow forcing it to flow back.
I and other community leaders have carried out a need assessment of the affected communities and there is an urgent need for:
a) Tents to provide temporal shelter for the families that have been rendered homeless.
b) Clothing, blankets, beds, mattresses and mosquito nets to help the victims.
c) Temporal or mobile portable pit latrines to ensure sanitation.
d) Relief Items in form of food, soap, match boxes and cooking oils.
e) Relocation of the affected communities to safer places.
f) Mobile health care provider to help the population.
g) Need to constitute a committee to investigate the causes of floods and management flow of water on our water bodies and river Nile.
Hon. Minister any such other intervention from your office that can promote and protect humanity and my resident is highly appreciated.
Your faithfully,
__________________________________
CHARLES TEBANDEKE
(MP BBAALE CONSTITUENCY)
+256 777 850 338