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Efforts are underway to clean roads and restore the beauty and cleanliness of Kasese Municipality
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Kasese
Floodwaters from River Nyamwamba, which swept through Kasese Municipality on Saturday, September 7, 2024, severely disrupted transport and business, leaving several roads, including newly constructed ones under the USMID program, cut off. Nyamwamba Division was particularly affected. Key roads impacted included Nyakasanga Road, which connects Nyakasanga through Acholi Quarters to Kilembe Road, and Mbogo Yabwe Road, which links Nyamwamba Division to the central division. The flooding paralyzed movement in these areas.
Kasese Municipality Mayor Chance Kahindo confirmed that a heavy-duty machine, owned by a Ugandan national, arrived on Monday and successfully re-diverted the river back to its channel in Rukoki. "There is some relief now as we plan for a permanent solution," Kahindo said.
However, the mayor noted that roads remain covered with dust and silt deposits left by the floodwaters, but efforts are underway to clean them and restore the beauty and cleanliness of Kasese Municipality.
Nyamwamba Division LC3 Chairperson Pimako Kasereka shared that disaster management funds had been exhausted in July, leaving the division facing additional challenges, including damaged bridges, blocked culverts, and the need to de-silt trenches and clean the flood-damaged division headquarters.
"We are diverting funds from other projects to address these challenges," Kasereka said. He expressed frustration with previous projects meant to restore the Nyamwamba River's banks, such as planting bamboo trees and constructing gabions upstream, questioning their effectiveness given the river’s ongoing threat to lowland residents.
"Solving the real issue may not require all that money," Kasereka added. "Purchasing two D9 machines, each costing sh800m, and conducting a comprehensive de-silting of the entire river channel might be the true solution."
River Nyamwamba (Courtesy picture by Zuma Mukalazi) from X
Damage assessment
The recent floods affected over 1,000 houses and approximately 74 hectares of land, including crop plantations, fishponds, and heritage sites, from Bulembya Division to the lowlands of the municipality.
Wilfred Bagenda, the Central Division Police Commander for Rwenzori East, urged the district disaster management committee to assess the full extent of property damage, including losses to crops and tourist attractions.
He specifically mentioned the destruction of the Kiwa Heritage Hot Springs, which used to attract over 100 visitors daily and 500 on weekends. "The proprietor is stranded, but what about the people’s gardens and crops?" Bagenda added.
No compensation for channel invaders
On September 8, 2024, State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabbyanga, issued a directive for the immediate removal of people who had encroached on the reserved River Nyamwamba channel, which stretches from Basecamp Cell through Kisanga-Kamurikiwizi to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Chief Administrative Officer Mustafa Kikusa emphasized that individuals who built houses on the reserved land will not receive compensation. "They must leave immediately to allow us to improve the river channel," Kikusa said.
Kasese District Senior Environmental Officer Augustine Kooli called for the formation of disaster management committees at all leadership levels, from the municipality down to village level. He said these committees would streamline report compilation and minimize blame during disasters.
Kooli also revealed that a study is underway to assess the silt and debris that have accumulated in the River Nyamwamba channel over the past 40 years since Kilembe Mines Limited ceased routine de-silting. The study will help formulate a clear de-silting plan.
Additionally, Kooli suggested incorporating local knowledge into flood mitigation efforts. "Let’s consult the elders to learn what was done in the past," he said.
Kasese District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Erias Byamungu shared that he has written to the Office of the Prime Minister regarding the disaster and expects a team to visit the affected areas soon.
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