Heavy rains have displaced several families and left trails of destruction in Oyam District, with freshly planted crops destroyed and houses brought to the ground.
About 2,000 households in Myene and Kamdini Sub-county in Oyam District are counting losses after torrential rains destroyed several hectares of crops. The Wednesday night rain coupled with a hailstorm lasted two hours and razed down houses, leaving families homeless.
The most hit areas were Arwotongo Main, Arwotongo Mix, Opatoyere and Acetotwo villages in Myene Sub-county. Others are Okoro, Woromite and London all in Juma parish and Abyenek village in Zambia parish, Kamdini sub-county.
The affected residents are in fear that hunger might strike the area since all they had planted including maize, beans, sorghum and sunflower among others were destroyed.
Alfred Kolo, one of the affected farmers, told the Cooperator he lost 25 acres of sunflower and maize plantation in the hailstorm.
“The maize and the sunflower I have lost is what I was depending on as my source of income. I am now stranded and I don’t know where I will get money to pay school fees for my children,” he said.
Another farmer Lydia Akello said her gardens of beans, groundnuts and sorghum are currently submerged due to the heavy rains, casting doubts of reaping any harvests. Akello has appealed to the district leaders and well-wishers to come to their rescue.
Simon Otim, the LC I Chairperson of Arwotongo Main said over 60 acres of crops were destroyed in his village; something he said has posed fear of hunger in the area.
“Roughly 60 acres of crops have been destroyed in my village alone. I am appealing for urgent intervention by the government. We need relief food and seeds to save us from the possible looming hunger,” he said.
Myene Sub-county LC III Chairperson, James Ogwal said they have embarked on filling data of the affected farmers for submission to the District Disaster Office to be forwarded to the Office of the Prime Minister for action. That was echoed by Benson Dila, Oyam LC V Chairman.
“About 80% of the crops have been destroyed in Myene and Kamdini Sub-counties affecting almost every household in the area and as of now data is being collected for submission to the Office of the Prime Minister OPM for humanitarian aid.” Dila said in a telephone interview on Thursday.
Much rainfall is expected in the highland areas of Elgon, Karamojong, Lango, Acholi and the West Nile sub-regions with relaxation likely to be registered in December according to a seasonal rainfall outlook released by Uganda Meteorological Authority UMA in August, 2022.
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