Many Batwa community are feared Dead in Massive Floods.
Property and crops worth million of shillings have been lost to what locals say are floods that originated from Mount Muhabura, last evening!
According to Bernard Mbereyinka, a social worker in Kisoro, about 10 people are feared dead.
While the police is yet to confirm this, the dead are said to come from the Rukeri Batwa Community, which is found in Rukeri Village, Gitenderi Parish, Nyarusiza Sub County, Kisoro District
“Other 7 who died come from Koranya Trading Centre in Buzeyi Village, Rukongi Parish, Nyarusiza Sub County Kisoro District,” says Mbwreyinka.
These villages are located on the slopes of Mount Muhabura
“The floods started from 7:00pm yesterday and haven’t stopped,” he adds
Local sources say People on the ground are living in deep fear.
“The floods look like molten Lava. This mud is very hot,” Mbereyinka reveals.
Many of the suspected dead are people from Koranya Trading Centre are natives of Rwanda who came to Uganda looking for casual labour and have been renting in this trading centre.
Local sources add that the Batwa Community living on slopes of Mount Muhabura have lost children and their houses have been swept.
The Damage:
Mr. Mbereyinka says one of the children who have died has been studying from a local school- Virunga Massif Community School- that was started by a CBO called Kisoro Concern for Marginalized People Organization.
The NGO has been constructing houses for the Rukeri Batwa Community.
Local sources add that the impassable roads have made it difficult for the rescue teams to access the affected areas as big boulders/stones have been piled in the middle of the road.
Also, the road leading to Mount Muhabura and Mgahinga National Park is now not motorable.