Residents rebuild their houses at Nfasha Trading Centre, Rubanda District, on Wednesday. PHOTO/ROBERT MUHEREZA

Residents of Nfasha Trading Centre in Bufundi Sub-county, Rubanda District are living  in fear of possible return of destructive running water from Rwamahano-Mukanyonko-Kibaya hills, that killed nearly 20 people and destroyed several property in 2017.

On September 26, 2017, following a downpour  that  pounded the area for almost two hours,  running water from Rwamahano-Mukanyonko-Kibaya hills destroyed about 20 houses in the valley, killing 13 people on spot  while many more died later from injuries they  had sustained.

Mr Samuel Tumukunde, a resident, on Wednesday said although they have rebuilt themselves they are worried about the return of the calamity each time it rains.

He revealed that some people have shifted their merchandise from shops in the valley to safer points.

“Rubanda District Local Government promised to mobilise community members and teach them how to dig trenches, terraces, contours and plant trees on the bare hills of Rwamahano-Mukanyonko-Kibaya and the valleys to check the speed of the running water but little has been done,” he said.

He added: “We are living in fear that the September 2017 calamity might re-occur.  In fact, every rainy season people get worried about the  safety of their lives and property.”

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Mr Christopher Mbabazi, the chairperson of traders in Nfasha Trading Centre and Ikamiro Gravity Flow scheme, which was serving eight villages before it was destroyed by the September 2017 running water, says whereas government promised to compensate people that lost property, only families of the deceased received Shs500,000 each.

“The government promised to compensate all the people that lost their property in the September 2017 calamity but to date nothing has been fulfilled. Government only delivered food relief items while some nongovernmental organisations donated house hold items,” Mr Mbabazi said.

He added: “I lost a  newly acquired grinding mill worth Shs5m. Our people have been fetching water from ponds because the destroyed gravity flow scheme has never been re-constructed.”

Mr Mbabazi  said the only permanent solution is for government to relocate residents to a safer place.

Mr James Katonka, 50, said him, his three wives and 13 children are  homeless after their three commercial buildings were destroyed.

“I operated shops in the three commercial houses that were destroyed by the running water. I had invested all my savings in building these houses that were fully stocked with merchandise. If government can consider extending interest-free loans to all those that lost their properties, it can help us revive our business. For now, I am doing casual jobs to raise money for the upkeep of my extended family,” Mr Katonka said.

Mr Isaac Kafenya said he received Shs500,000 from government after he losing his mother.

He said if availed an interest-free loan to buy a motorcycle, he will be able to generate money to pay schools fees for his three siblings.

The secretary for finance and works at Rubanda District council, Ms Adrine Tibenda, said after the calamity, they embarked on training people in the area to dig trenches, make terraces and plant trees on the bare hill tops but some people have not complied.

Leaders say

The district secretary for natural resources, production and marketing, Mr Alex Asiimwe Kassaja, said: “Just like the adage says that water shall always find its original path, constructing trenches and planting trees is not a permanent solution but relocating them to safer areas. Our people are being reminded that saving lives is better than renovating their houses.”

The district environment officer, Ms Pamela Katushabe, said there is need for more concerted efforts by all stakeholders to sensitise community members on environment conservation in order to guard against such catastrophes.