Rukungiri– More than 300 residents of Ndorero and Kanyinya wards all in Southern division Rukungiri municipality Rukungiri district are at a great risk of being attacked by famine following a violent windstorm which left plantations of banana, cassava, sweet potatoes , sugar canes destroyed.
The violent windstorm was a result of last night’s (Friday night) heavy rain that poured the area for almost 8 hours.
The affected farmers said the violent wind brought down banana, Sugar cane plants, and pounded cassava and sweet potatoes asking the government to quickly come to their rescue before the situation gets out of human control since they risk being attacked by famine.
Mr Moses Twinomujuni , 46 and a father of 4 said his 2 acre banana plantation was completely brought down by the heavy windstorm .
‘’ Am now stuck because the heavy windstorm left me with nothing to feed my 4 children who are soon coming for school holiday. Am only appealing for assistance from government because the situation is likely to worsen if not handled as soon as possible’’ Mr Twinomujuni said.
He now wants the government to support them with quick maturing maize seedlings.Ms Ainemugisha Fortunate, 32, a mother of 3 said the windstorm did not only destroy her banana plantation but also her 1 acre of cassava garden.‘
‘’ In the coming days I will be surviving on prayers and God’s mercy because the windstorm punished me with no mercy and am now praying to the Lord to pave away for the survival of my family ‘’. Ms Ainemugisha said.
Mr Aggrey Mugisha , another affected farmer said he lost about 2 acres of his banana plantations.
‘’ The destruction of my banana plantation has dashed my hopes of supporting my family with basic needs and paying tuition for my 4 three children who are in boarding school ’’. Mr Mugisha said.
Ms Caroline Musiime , 36 also one of the affected farmers said this the second time within a period of two years that a storm has destroyed his banana plantation.
‘’ Last year I lost my banana plantation to a hailstorm . I don’t know why all this is happening to me. I think this is God’s plan and I know he will cater for my family because I left with no option at the moment ’’. Ms Musiime said.
The Southern division LC3 Chairperson Mr Joel Gumisiriza said as the division leadership they have already compiled a list of the affected farmers.
He however advised to continue cultivating as the government brings relief food.
“Some of the farmers are likely to be hit by hunger after losing their gardens to the floods and the storm. We also appeal to the farmers to be on the alert because the rains are likely to affect more areas of the sub-county,” Mr Gumisiriza said.
He added that ‘’ efforts are underway to establish the exact extent of the damage caused by the windstorm and am asking the relevant government and humanitarian agencies to come to the rescue of his electorate because the affected families are in dire need of relief items such as food seedlings among others’’.
When contacted for a comment, the Rukungiri municipality Mayor Mr Kamsiime Boaz Matita called for calmness among the affected families saying that he is office is aware of this problem.
‘’ The division chairperson informed me about the destruction of people’s plantations and gardens and early next week I will visit the affected families. So let them remain calm as we look for a solution’’. Mr Matita said.
This is not the first time of this area experiencing such disaster, last year hailstorm left many families with nothing to eat and nothing a relief from the government was received. This is according Mr Patrick Mugisha a resident and also an affected farmer.
