KAMPALA – Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has accused government of neglecting victims of a hailstorm that hit Buyende and Kamuli districts about two weeks ago.
The storm left 18 people dead and destroyed their homes and gardens. Government, through the Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Mr. Musa Ecweru and the Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, Mr Moses Kizige, donated to the victims 200 bags of maize floor, 100 bags of beans, 100 saucepans and 500 mosquito nets. Each bereaved family was given Shs500,000 to help in burial arrangements.
However, Speaker Kadaga has asked that more should be given to the victims because what they have is not enough.
During her thanksgiving prayers at Bugembe Cathedral in Kamuli on Sunday, she attacked Government for what she called its negligence of Buyende victims, by giving them ‘little support’.
Mr. Kizige, however, said Government used all the iron sheets in its stores to resettle Bududa landslide victims in Bulambuli, adding: “The office is not financially stable because the financial year is ending.”
“When the incident occurred, we reacted quickly by donating some items to the victims, brought the issue of Buyende to the attention of the President and are still waiting for his response.
“The money that was given to Bududa and Kiryandongo accident victims was from the Office of the President,’’ he said.
The victims, who are mainly from Kidera and Namasagali Sub-counties in Buyende and Kamuli districts respectively, have resorted to sleeping in tents despite receiving some relief items from Government following the April 22 incident.
Mr. Suleiman Nyondo, one of the victims, implored Government to intervene by building for them resettlement houses because they lost almost everything and are financially incapacitated.
Mr. Muhammad Nabeta, another victim, said unless Government intervenes, the situation they are living in is still alarming.
“I’m taking care of eight people including the wife and children of my brother who perished in the floods. Their house was destroyed beyond recognition and is currently sleeping outside under the tents,’’ he said.
