By Website Writer; More bodies continue to be retrieved by residents in Mbale District following the weekend heavy downpour that triggered flooding and landslides in Bugisu and Sebei sub-regions.
The Sunday, July 31 2022 flooding was a result of the bursting of banks of rivers such as Nabuyonga, Namatala and Nambaale.
By press time, a team of had so far retrieved 23 dead bodies; 10 bodies from the vehicle recovered from Nabuyonga river.
Residents have expressed disappointment with the government’s slow response as the rescue team solicits money to buy ropes.
In an interview on Sunday, Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah said the government is engaging Police and UPDF leadership to send a team of experts, including marine officers to recover the missing bodies.
However, this has all turned out in vain as the locals strive to single-handedly to recover the lost lives and property.
“I was sent here by the President to assess the situation and to ensure the missing bodies are found and trapped vehicles are removed,” Hon. Nabbanja Robinah said.
She also said the disaster was a result of environmental degradation.
“I was here two weeks ago and President Museveni was categorically clear that people who are destroying the environment will bring us problems. This disaster is due to environmental degradation. I believe it could have been avoided if our people had not degraded the riverbanks,” she said while addressing journalists at Mbale City mortuary.
Ms. Nabbanja said starting this week, a team of government officials will visit the affected districts to sensitize locals on the dangers of environmental degradation.
“We are supposed to come here on Tuesday next week to sensitize our people to leave the river banks,” she said.
Apart from the homesteads, commercial areas such as; Mbale Industrial Park, Livingstone University, Resort Hotel and Shekinah Glory Christian International School, Mbale were also submerged by water.
Our deep condolences to the families!
