Residents of Koga and Butooke villages in Kagezi Parish, Kanaba Sub- County, as well as Mpundu and Chibumba villages in North Ward, Chahafi Town Council in Kisoro District, have been left homeless after heavy floods destroyed their homes and crops.
The residents say a heavy downpour that occurred on Sunday evening flooded several gardens, destroying crops such as beans, maize, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, and banana plantations. The destruction has left many families worried about a looming food shortage.
According to the affected residents, the heavy rains also left several key roads impassable, including the Gatete–Chibumba Road, Sereri–Cyananke Road, and Sereri–Butooke Road. This has made it difficult for farmers to transport their produce to markets and has also hindered patients, especially pregnant mothers, from accessing health facilities.
Benon Agakuba, the Local Council One Chairperson of Mpundu Village, said some families have been forced to seek rental accommodation after their homes were flooded. He added that many children have stopped attending school, particularly those from Chibumba Primary School, which is currently submerged by water.
Meanwhile, Benon Munyambabazi, the LC1 Chairperson of Butooke Village, has appealed to the government to provide relief food to the affected residents and urgently rehabilitate the damaged roads in the area.
CUE IN RESIDENTS & LOCAL LEADERS… ON THE ISSUE… RR//
Meanwhile, mudslides claimed one life in Nshanjare Town Council, Rubanda District, following heavy rainfall on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Twinomujuni Deus, a resident of Bisizi Cell in Kivunga Ward, according to Amos Byaruhanga, the Speaker of Nshanjare Town Council.
Byaruhanga noted that the mudslides affected all 18 villages in the town council, destroying crop gardens, damaging homes, and leaving many residents with significant losses.
The hardest-hit villages include Kivunga, Mushunga, Butabonana, Kagogo, Kabaya, Ryamihanda, Ihunga, Kiriba, Nshanjare, Mengo, and Mashoho cells. He also reported that key roads, including Nshanjare–Kivunga, Nshanjare–Ihunga, Nshanjare–Mashoho, and Nshanjare–Kagogo are currently impassable due to severe damage caused by the heavy rains.
Last week, the Kigezi Sub-region was listed among areas expected to receive near- to above-average rainfall during the March–April–May (MAM) 2026 season, according to the latest seasonal outlook released by the Office of the Prime Minister.
The Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hilary Onek, warned that the anticipated rains could trigger flooding and waterlogging in low-lying areas and along the lower slopes of Mount Elgon.
He noted that several districts could be affected, including Butaleja, Rubanda, Kisoro, Amuru, Obongi, Pakwach, Kayunga, Kalungu, Rakai, Kitgum, Otuke, Lamwo, Serere, Bukedea, and Kasese.
