Heavy downpour kills one, properties worth millions destroyed in Masindi

MASINDI – A 32-year-old woman has died after being washed away by running water as a result of a heavy downpour in Kimina village, Kiruli sub-county, Masindi district.

The incident occurred during this morning’s heavy downpour and the deceased has been identified as Roselino Amongito.

James Rubanga, the area LC1 Chairperson told theCooperator that Amongito was washing clothes near a stream when the incident happened.

Rubanga explains that during the heavy downpour, running water carried away some of the clothes into the stream and in the process of getting them back, Amongito fell into the stream that washed her away.

Rubanga adds that the residents who saw Amongito being swept by the water informed him and the other residents who later mounted a search for her and later found her body trapped by a tree about a kilometer from the point where she was washing from.

Rubanga added that police from Pakanyi post reached the scene after they had retrieved the body from the water and recorded statements before allowing the relatives to bury her body.

The Chairperson revealed that arrangements were on going to make arrangements for her burial.

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According to Rubanga, Amongito has left behind six children including a seven-month-old baby.

The Chairperson, Pakanyi sub-county, Frank Asiimwe confirmed the reports saying he received information about it and he also informed police that went to the scene.

Properties destroyed

Muhammad Lukumu, a youth leader from the same sub-county said, crops like maize, beans, sugar cane, ground nuts among others were all swept away.

“We don’t know whether we shall have what to eat in the coming months because everything was destroyed. As I am talking, some houses are in water,” said Lukumu.

He added that it’s the first time the sub-county is experiencing such an incident.

Geoffrey Bigabwa, the district Councillor Kiruli sub-county told theCooperator that the whole district may be affected because the sub-county acts as a food basket for Masindi.

“It’s unbelievable, I have lost my all my three acres of maize and another one acre of beans. I am not going to get anything; everything has been washed away,” said Gerald Barungi a farmer in Kimina village in Kiruli sub-county.

The affected people cried out to the government to provide them with relief food to enable them have what to eat.

By the time of filing the story, the district disaster committee had not yet gone to the ground to assess the situation.

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