2, 000 displaced by landslides in Kisoro
Over 1,000 households have been destroyed and 2, 000 people displaced from their houses in five sub counties of Kisoro district from landslides and floods that have hit the area. The major sub counties affected included Nyarubuye, Kanaba, Murora, Nyabwishenya and Busanza.
This rainfall that was characterized by severe strong wind and hail stones left two secondary schools, over 50 families a church and many others affected in the above mentioned sub counties.
Since February todate, a two day episode of torrential rain left over eight families in Nyarubuye and 11 families in Gisasa village Kanaba Sub County displaced. Serere market experienced flooding in Murora Sub County where houses that accommodate over 800 individuals were affected coupled with the destruction of agricultural produce.
Three people were killed and property destroyed.
Some infrastructure like Kagano Primary school and Chibumba Primary School, were flooded and over 1,300 children in the two schools risk drowning as the compounds are so far covered with water.
Latrines have been flooded in areas of Gashengeyi, Karwa, Serere in Koga, Chibumba, Muramba primary school among others, increasing the danger of a cholera outbreak. All roads are impassable except the main route that links Kisoro to Kabale. Transport is extremely difficult as some of the bridges have been swept away. There was already little food and the situation has been made worse by the destruction of crops that the communities had planted.
The Uganda Red Cross Society together with the local government undertook efforts to assist the affected communities by re-settling the displaced in temporary shelters, tracing and reuniting families as well as distributing essential household items to the displaced people. The volunteers are tying to conduct sensitization sessions related to health and sanitation practices. Emergency Health kits including water purifying tablets, jerry cans and soap have been distributed to combat further healthy disaster risks such as cholera and dysentery.
Meanwhile another 500,000 people from Rwenzori and Kigezi regions are at risk of landslides and floods, the state minister for relief and disaster preparedness, Musa Ecweru revealed. A powerful landslide struck Katebwa Sub County in Kabarole district on 6th March displacing some 500 people.
Although the situation has not currently reached alarming rates, there is still need for further intervention in these hilly and mountainous districts of south west Uganda.
By Jacqueline Zawedde
In a two roomed house in Wakataayi Village, Kakakala Parish, Zirobwe Sub County, Luweero district lives 12 year old primary school going Nakku Sherinah. She studies in Primary four at Kijugumbya Primary school. The household has seven (7) members with a 50 year old Nakimuli Sarah (grand mother) as the family head and Nakku being the second elder child in this home. 
