Uganda: Floods overwhelm City suburbs

By Jeff Lule

THOUSANDS of residents in Bwaise and Kalerwe suburbs in Kampala were yesterday displaced by the overnight heavy rains which resulted into floods.

Residents said the area started flooding at around 3:00am, forcing many to run for their lives. They claim that property worth millions from various households was also destroyed.

"The majority of the families slept in Kalerwe trading centre, while others climbed on the rooftops. The bad thing is that all our property was destroyed," Norah Namusisi, one of the affected residents, said. By the time The New Vision visited the area in the morning, it was still heavily flooded, the houses were abandoned with some residents seated on rooftops carrying their luggage.

In other areas residents were seen draining houses with basins and jerricans full of dirty water. Most houses and shops were halfway submerged in water.

Child Care Primary School in Kibe Zone in Kalerwe abandoned lessons as the buildings were already submerged in water.

"When it rains, the school has to close because we have nowhere to pass or sit," said teacher James Kato.

Richard Mukasa, who owns an animal feeds and a retail shop in the area, said all his items, worth sh10m, had been destroyed by water. He stressed that many people's businesses have been affected by the floods.

Even the chairman of the area had fled as his house was submerged. Residents attributed the floods to the poor drainage system and the high population in the area. "We have only one drainage channel which collects all the water from Kyebando and other areas. Moreover, it is very shallow and narrow. Kampala City Council has done nothing," Mukasa added.

He said the Government needed to relocate some of the residents to other places and design alternative drainage systems.