By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Death toll of the Elgon floods continue to soar up as marine police and authorities are working hard to retrieve the bodies of tge victims as well as rescuing lives. Many crops, animals and properties worth millions have been lost in the floods after Saturday night downpour that left two rivers burst their banks in Mbale.
According to reports, at least 29 people have lost their lives to floods and over 900 homes have been internally displaced.
Among the dead include 11 people, who were traveling in a Toyota Super Custom to attend an introduction ceremony in Kabwangasi Sub-county, Butebo District.
Hassan Kasandha, the groom said the vehicle with its occupants was swept away at the flooded Nabuyonga Bridge after the river burst its banks.
“Our teams have been sent to the scenes to help out in the search and rescue process,” Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga said.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja Musafiri rushed to Mbale to assess magnitude of the damage caused by floods from Mount Elgon and also to condole with families that lost lives of their dear ones.
She assured that government was determined to extend assistance to the affected families after finding out the real number of the affected persons
Watch Video of flooding Namuyonga and Namatala rivers in Mbale here
She contributed sh1m to each of the bereaved family to help them in burial arrangements.
John Kikonyogo, the FDC deputy spokesperson yesterday told journalists at Najjanankumbi that holistic measures such as safe and mandatory relocation of people in disaster prone areas, buying land for the affected population among others should be put in place which will reduce on the fatalities and property loss.
The Elgon region floods follow another hunger disaster that has claimed over 900 lives leaving out more than half a million of the population are going hungry in the region.
