Kasese district leaders have called for an urgent re-direction of River Nyamwamba to its original course in order to avert floods in future.
A point where Kikatena bridge was destroyed by the river
“If the river is not re-directed to its original course and its bed deepens, efforts to repair bridges on it may be useless,” Kasese mayor Godfrey Kabyanga said.
Kabyanga was speaking at a meeting with members of the parliamentary committee on disaster, who recently toured parts of Kilembe valley that were affected by the flood.
They were led by Isingiro South MP Alex Byarugaba Bakunda.
Briefing the MPs on the extent of the damage, the Kasese district assistant chief administrative officer, Wilson Asaba, said efforts to re-direct the river were being frustrated by the lack of special equipment.
“We need D8 and D10 bulldozers to re-channel the river and diggers to deepen the bed,” Asaba said.
The river is still flowing through the routes it created when it flooded on May 1, while efforts to repair damaged bridges have stopped.
It was noted that because of many underground tunnels in the area, there was a likelihood of ground sinking if more rains hit the area.
“Many people have settled on top of the mine tunnels and should they sink, we shall suffer more,” Rwenzururu Kingdom minister for disaster preparedness John Baluku said.
Kasese Municipality MP James Mbahimba attributed the floods to the massive environmental degradation in the Rwenzori mountains.
Nelson Guma, a Uganda Wildlife Authority official, said the burning down of over 100 acres of forests in the mountains early last year may have interfered with the catchment area of River Nyamwamba.
By John Thawite, The New Times