One dies, over 100 houses unroofed in Bukoba Municipal

KAGERA: ONE person died and over 100 houses were unroofed after heavy rain and strong winds pounded Bukoba Municipality on Wednesday morning.

Bukoba District Commissioner (DC), Mr Erasto Sima told journalists here that the rain started at midnight and continued until 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday. Several infrastructures including a health centre at Kashai Ward, classrooms and church-owned building were unroofed.

“One person was killed by a collapsing wall at Rwamishenye Ward, while about 106 houses were unroofed. The Disaster Management Committee (DMC) was still compiling list of the affected families to establish the exact loss caused by the rains and the needed amount to assist the displaced families,” he said.

The most affected wards include Rwamishenye where several houses were unroofed including a church owned by the Bukoba Catholic diocese, Hamugembe and Kashai.

He listed areas frequently affected by floods to include Omukigusha and Kanoni (Bilele Ward), Kashabo and Shabridin (Bakoba), Matopeni (Kashai) and Nyamkazi (Miembeni).

He appealed to people living in flood prone areas to shift to safer areas for their own safety, while fishermen conducting fishing business along Lake Victoria should also be careful   following strong winds.

“Parents, on the other hand, should not allow their children to go to the lake to avoid drowning,” he said.

Meanwhile, Muleba Council has allocated 70m/- for rehabilitation of damaged infrastructures.

Muleba District Commissioner, Dr Abel Nyamahanga said that heavy rains accompanied by strong winds pounded Karambi Ward on Sunday morning where over 150 houses were unroofed. However, there were no casualties on human lives, he said.

Dr Nyamahanga explained that during this period most parts may experience excessive soil moisture and flooding which may affect crop and farm management.

“Farmers need to get prepared to make use of the rains and brace for likelihood of excessive rain,” he said.

A recent report by the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) indicates that Kagera Region was among regions which will experience normal and above normal rainfall between October to November, this year.

Issuing the weather forecast report for October to December 2023 rainfall season (Vuli), the TMA Acting Director General, Dr Ladislaus Chang’a said most of the Coast and Lake Victoria regions will receive above normal to normal rains between October and December during the vuli rains season.

The Vuli 2023 rains were expected to start during the fourth week of September, 2023 over the western part of Lake Victoria basin (Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Mara regions) and spread to other areas during October 2023.

“Farmers are advised to prepare their fields, plant, weeding and use relevant farm inputs timely and are further advised to use the best methods and technologies to prevent water stagnation in the field, erosion and loss of soil fertility and choose the right seeds and crops for this Vuli season.

In addition, it is recommended to strengthen the agricultural infrastructure and control crop pests and diseases timely to reduce potential impact,” he said.