Kasese District Loses Over 84 Billion Shillings to Natural Disasters in a Decade

Summary:

• According to Singoma, the education sector has suffered losses amounting to 5 billion shillings, while the health sector, including Kilembe Mines Hospital, has lost 32 billion shillings.

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KASESE: Kasese District Local Government has lost over 84 billion shillings to natural disasters in the past 10 years.

These disasters, which began affecting the district in May 2013, have claimed 54 lives and displaced more than 5,251 households.

The District Senior Planner, Joseph Singoma, states that almost all sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, socio-economic livelihoods, and population settlement, have been severely impacted.

According to Singoma, the education sector has suffered losses amounting to 5 billion shillings, while the health sector, including Kilembe Mines Hospital, has lost 32 billion shillings.

The Works and Transport sector has incurred losses of 17 billion shillings, the water sector 5 billion shillings, community-based services 1.2 billion shillings, agriculture 2.9 billion shillings, and natural resources 700 million shillings.

Singoma, who serves as the Focal Person for the District Disaster Management Committee, also reports that more than 3,000 acres of crop fields have been destroyed.

He expresses concern that over 80% of the population, which relies on farming for their livelihoods, could be facing food shortages and economic challenges.

Singoma calls for joint efforts by the Central Government and other stakeholders, including the local population, to implement measures to mitigate the effects of climate change. He also urges the local population to plant trees on bare hills to help combat these issues.