OPM donates food relief to farmers affected by hailstorm in Masindi

MASINDI – The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has donated 10 tons of maize flour and five tons of beans to the farmers who were affected by the hailstorm in the sub-counties of Bwijanga and Budongo in Masindi district.

According to Geoffrey Bigabwa, the Secretary for Production Masindi district local government, the farmers were affected by the hailstorm in August this year and crops like maize, beans, groundnuts, banana plantations among others were greatly affected.

“The farmers were completely left with nothing since the disaster was too much. They brought their cry to us, as leaders we wrote to OPM to help us with food relief for these farmers. We are happy that the food relief has been delivered to the district headquarters,” said Bigabwa.

Speaking during the hand over of the relief food to the sub-county leaders at Masindi district headquarters, Kassim Kabagonza, the district Vice Chairperson said, the food will benefit 75 households from Kitamba village in Bwijanga sub-county and 80 households in Kimanaya village in Budongo sub-county.

“These are the villages which were hit hard by the hailstorm. We thank the government for the positive response. My prayer is the sub-county leadership considers the people who were most affected,” he said.

Commissioning the distribution of the relief food, Rose Kirabira, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Masindi hailed the government for the intervention saying, the storm left the farmers with completely nothing.

“In case such incidents happen again, write to the relevant offices such that you are supported. As government, we are ready to support the farmers in case such disasters happen. Sub-county leaders must ensure that this food goes to the right people,” Kirabira warned.

In October this year, a heavy downpour also ravaged Pakanyi and Kiruli sub-counties in Masindi district and left a 32-year-old woman dead and properties worth millions destroyed. The bridges were also washed away limiting movement to other areas of the district.

When Bigabwa, the Secretary for Production was asked on their fate, he explained that a request of food relief was sent to OPM, adding that in a few weeks time, the relief for the most affected people will be delivered.

“I urge them to be patient, as Local Government we are doing everything possible to ensure that they also get relief food,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/local-leaders-protest-over-dormant-administrative-units/

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