RWENZORI REGION (KASESE & BUNDIBUGYO DISTRICTS) FLASH FLOODS APPEAL

PRESS RELEASE 26TH MAY 2020

RWENZORI REGION (KASESE & BUNDIBUGYO DISTRICTS) FLASH FLOODS APPEAL

The Forum for Democratic Change is deeply concerned with the devastating state of affairs transpiring in the districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo where over 125,000 People have been directly affected and displaced because of the floods that have hit and ravaged the Region since 5th May 2020 as a result of the four major rivers of Nyamughasana, Mubuku, Lhubiriha and Nyamwamba bursting their banks.

We have received several reports from our local branches, district local government leaders led by District Chairman Hon. Godfrey Sibendire Bigogo, members of Parliament and recently the Leader of Minority, Rt. Hon. Betty Aol Ochan, who visited the area and informed us about the devastating state of affairs in the Region but most especially Kasese district which is most hit by the disaster.

As of today, the calamity has claimed over 8 lives with about 4 bodies still missing while properties worthy billions of shillings were destroyed including Kilembe Mines, Kilembe Mines Hospital, Cobalt Banker with Cobalt worthy UGX 90 Billion, a number of bridges connecting villages in Kilembe, Karambi, Bugoye, Maliba, Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town Council, Karusandara, Kyarumba, Ibanda, Kyanya Town Council and the three divisions of Kasese Municipality among others.

We have learnt that a total of 35 camps have since been set up to host the displaced communities.

Certainly, People that were displaced and currently living in camps need immediate response in terms of sanitary ware, and establishment of tentative medical camps to enable treatment of patients from within the camps since transport has been affected with the broken bridges.

A bridge that connects Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo was destroyed in the areas around Mpondwe-Bwera which is the east of the border with Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu Province and is one of the busiest border crossings between the two countries.

Unfortunately, this isn’t happening in the Rwenzori Region alone. The same is happening around the shores of all major lakes and rivers in Country. People living in Masindi Port as well as those living on the shores of Lake Victoria are facing almost similar challenges of over flooding waters.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) therefore commiserates with the devastated communities of Kasese and Bundibugyo districts and as a short term measure calls for immediate response by all government agencies in Kasese to give prompt responses to challenges that have come with the flooding catastrophe as lasting solutions to these disasters are found.

Aware of the devastating effects on the National economy in terms of long term effects on the Tourism sector, mining sector, trade industry between Ugandan and Eastern Congo that is stalled we call upon development partners to intervene and assist in handling the situation.

In the long term, Government of Uganda should consider facilitating and equipping the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness with a self-sustaining budget to ably handle disaster as and when they occur, in order to avoid the now very common supplementary budgets whenever we are faced with a crisis.

Finally, we appeal to all Ugandans in a concerted effort, to join in alleviating the plight the people of Kasese by donating to them relief items during this trying moment.

The Forum for Democratic Change in conjunction with the People’s Government henceforth launches an appeal to to be called RESTORING HOPE AND LIVES to aid the People of Kasese now living in desperate conditions in camps.

This National effort will be managed by the FDC National Task Force headed by Hon. Roland Kaginda Mugume, the Party Deputy Chairman and deputised by Hon. William Nzoghu, the Party Deputy President.

We appeal for any kind of humanitarian aid in form of food, warm clothing, blankets or any materials and financial assistance to be channeled through the committee.

Any material assistance can be delivered immediately to the FDC headquarters beginning today Tuesday 26th May 2020.

The FDC Task Force will also be making written appeals and will be happy to collect any assistance from well wishers.

We are encouraged by those who have already responded to our appeal and wish to thank individuals and groups for that goodwill gesture.

The first consignment of support will be reaching the victims of this natural catastrophe before the end of this week.

EASING OF LOCKDOWN MEASURES

Fellow citizens we all by now should know that there has been some easing of the lockdown measures to allow especially private transport to move with a limited number of only three occupants per vehicle including the driver. As the FDC we have always supported the lockdown but also the measured easing of the lockdown.

However we remain greatly concerned that despite a promise by the Museveni administration to supply free face masks which would be a reassurance of the safety of citizens while in public, there are no signs that the two weeks deadline given for delivery of the government provided masks will be met.

We are particularly concerned by the announcement last week by the minister of Health Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng who informed Ugandans that there is no funding for face masks.

This comes at a time that Ugandans are eagerly waiting for accountability for the colossal amount of money collected from loans and donations that remain uncounted for over two months since it’s release.

It is also disturbing that a number of community COVID-19 cases are beginning to surface arising from contacts of truck drivers and yet the protective equipment is still not in sight.

The actions of the Museveni regime in making false promises and now asking the public to provide their own face masks is an act of dishonesty and a betrayal of Ugandans citizens hope in overcoming COVID-19.

We feel it's our duty to call on all citizens not to lower their guard on the basis of false confidence and broken promises.

We encourage our own FDC members not to be duped by Mr. Museveni empty promise, but make their own masks and wherever they can donate some to members of their communities who cannot afford to buy them.

At the National level we will this week be launching a campaign named ‘PROVIDE A MASK, SAVE A LIVE’, aimed at raising face masks to Ugandan citizens free of charge, given the challenges faced by or unwillingness by those supposed to provide them free of charge.

Thank you.

One Uganda, One People.
PATRICK OBOI AMURIAT
PARTY PRESIDENT