Heavy rainfall kills two children in Bunyangabu
"Running debris covered houses and this led to loss of lives and property."
The Red Cross identified the two victims as two-and-a-half-year-old Joat Muhindo and Jamil Mumbere, five. (Courtesy pix by Uganda Red Cross Society)
Charles Etukuri
Senior Writer @New Vision
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Two children were killed Wednesday night following a downpour in Masibwe village in Uganda's western district of Bunyangabu.
The heavy rainfall caused intense flooding, the Uganda Red Cross Society said in a post on social media platform X.
"Running debris covered houses and this led to loss of lives and property."
The Red Cross identified the two victims as two-and-a-half-year-old Joat Muhindo and Jamil Mumbere, five.
Masibwe village, where they died, is located in Buhumba parish in Katebwa sub-county.
It is understood a Uganda Red Cross emergency response team had established that 65 households were affected in the community.
“The team on ground continues to further conduct rapid assessment, offer physco-social support to the affected families, as well as warning signs to those in vulnerable areas," added the Red Cross.
The tragic development comes after Uganda’s weather agency last week forecasted near-normal to above-normal rainfall across most regions from March to May.
Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, the Ministry of Water and Environment permanent secretary, said the current dry conditions will persist until mid-March, after which seasonal rains are expected to begin.
“A delayed onset of rains is anticipated due to tropical cyclones over the Indian Ocean, with rains establishing around mid-to-late March,” he said.
The forecast shows varying rainfall patterns across different regions, with some areas receiving substantial rainfall as early as mid-March and others experiencing a delayed onset.
Okot warned of potential challenges associated with the rainfall, including waterlogging, pest outbreaks, and increased vector-borne diseases.
However, he also highlighted opportunities such as increased water availability and favorable conditions for agriculture.
He advised farmers to plant at the onset of rains, use drought-resistant varieties, and practise soil and water conservation.
The ministry PS also urged authorities to clear drainage systems and intensify disease surveillance.