On Labour Day, River Nyamwamba in Kasese district burst its banks, following hours of heavy rains, flooding Kilembe Mines offices and nearby communities. So far, seven people have been reported dead and property worth millions destroyed. DENIS MUSANA, a nursing officer at Kilembe Hospital, narrated to John Masaba the sad events that turned a wedding into a funeral.
It was my relative’s wedding day. I woke up on Wednesday, Labour Day, anxious for good weather because I was one of the people on the organising committee. Little did I know that the fun I had anticipated would end in a funeral by evening.
At 8:00am, as I was about to leave for the wedding venue, it started raining and went on for two hours. I left my house, but about 200 metres away, it started raining again and I took shelter in one of the community houses. Later, it reduced to a drizzle.
At about 2:00pm, we heard a loud noise outside. Looking through the window, I saw people running out of their houses into the rain. Suddenly, a huge volume of water gushed into our house. We jumped in shock and confusion.
Everyone, children, women, the elderly were fleeing for their dear lives. the road had become a river. The murky brown waters were moving at a terrific speed, sweeping everything in their way, including vehicles and road banks. Houses crumbled as the waters rose with every passing minute. I saw two cars; a Mark II and Rav4 floating down the river.
By 4:00pm, the rain had stopped, but the water level kept rising. People were in a frenzy, trying to save their belongings.
Many of us stood on higher ground, confused at the destruction. As the flood ate away the roadside, my brother’s shop was suddenly in harm’s way. People shouted at him to get out, but by the time he decided to run to safety, it was too late.
I saw him being swept away by the waters. I wanted to jump to save him, but I knew it would be suicidal. My last image was of him waving his hand for help, after which he sank and disappeared.
With the help of other residents, we later located his body about a kilometre away. Mourners who converged at our home for the vigil could not stay because they feared the water levels would rise again. they fled to Kasese, about 10km away, leaving us with the body.
Floods also tore through Kilembe Hospital, where I work. this morning (thursday), I was told not to report for work as the hospital had been closed until further notice.
But still I consider myself lucky because more than half of my neighbours’ houses have been reduced to rubble.
It was my relative’s wedding day. I woke up on Wednesday, Labour Day, anxious for good weather because I was one of the people on the organising committee. Little did I know that the fun I had anticipated would end in a funeral by evening.
At 8:00am, as I was about to leave for the wedding venue, it started raining and went on for two hours. I left my house, but about 200 metres away, it started raining again and I took shelter in one of the community houses. Later, it reduced to a drizzle.
At about 2:00pm, we heard a loud noise outside. Looking through the window, I saw people running out of their houses into the rain. Suddenly, a huge volume of water gushed into our house. We jumped in shock and confusion.
Everyone, children, women, the elderly were fleeing for their dear lives. the road had become a river. The murky brown waters were moving at a terrific speed, sweeping everything in their way, including vehicles and road banks. Houses crumbled as the waters rose with every passing minute. I saw two cars; a Mark II and Rav4 floating down the river.
By 4:00pm, the rain had stopped, but the water level kept rising. People were in a frenzy, trying to save their belongings.
Many of us stood on higher ground, confused at the destruction. As the flood ate away the roadside, my brother’s shop was suddenly in harm’s way. People shouted at him to get out, but by the time he decided to run to safety, it was too late.
I saw him being swept away by the waters. I wanted to jump to save him, but I knew it would be suicidal. My last image was of him waving his hand for help, after which he sank and disappeared.
With the help of other residents, we later located his body about a kilometre away. Mourners who converged at our home for the vigil could not stay because they feared the water levels would rise again. they fled to Kasese, about 10km away, leaving us with the body.
Floods also tore through Kilembe Hospital, where I work. this morning (thursday), I was told not to report for work as the hospital had been closed until further notice.
But still I consider myself lucky because more than half of my neighbours’ houses have been reduced to rubble.
No comments:
Post a Comment