Namayingo district which has a whole constituency in the Lm Victoria in Eastern Uganda, is reportedly grappling with floods caused submerging waters.
The latest indicates that over one hundred households were displaced during a Thursday, May 2, 2024 tragedy where the flooding waters invaded area.
The most affected is Hama Island, where even the police marine detach and Uganda revenue authority offices are washed away.
Mr Trevor Solomon Baleke, the Namayingo Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC), says the heavy rainfall experienced in the area has been instrumental in raising the water levels leading to the floods.
“The households are within water catchment areas that is, not beyond the recommended 200 metres from the lake shores,” Mr Baleke said.
The current situation shows that the floods are increasing and are likely to affect other islands of Dolwe,Sigulu, and Yebe, among others.
According to Baleke, there is vacant land within the island where the displaced people can settle, but some Kenyan communities are claiming ownership of the same land, which is making it hard for the displaced to occupy.
“There is urgent need to reallocate the victims of floods to an open ground and also land for Hama Police marine detaches to have the station constructed,” he said before confirming that no life loss was registered.
Reports indicate that transport on the water (Lake Victoria) has become difficult given the rise in water levels, which authorities seek intervention call for police marine patrols on the waters to control transit and passenger boats.
The DRDC advocates for urgent intervention from the ministry of disaster and preparedness to respond to the natural calamity before it worsens.
He said; “There is need to question Kenyan communities over their alleged ownership of land in Hama Island, and yet Islands fall under ministry of tourism under the laws of Uganda.”
