Despite several government interventions to stop recurring disasters in the Rwenzori Sub-region, several measures seem to have failed to provide permanent solutions to disasters such as flash floods, mudslides, and landslides, which continue to claim lives of people and destroying properties worth millions.
In the last three months (from May), 15 people have died in disasters in Kasese District alone.
To tackle the recurrent cases of flash floods, the government focused on restoration measures around River Nyamwamba, which usually bursts its banks during the rainy season, and its catchment areas.
The government sunk Shs17b into desilting 5.4km hotspot areas along the river, including Masule, Kyanjuki, and Kyanjuki camp (Namuhuga and Kyonjojo). The works commenced in June 2022.
But the works, which involved the maintenance of earthwork, putting gabion masonry, and establishment of a dyke were affected by floods on April 23, 2023 and June 22, 2023 that led to the fresh deposition of silt and boulders within the desilted river channel.
