Hailstorm Wreaks havoc in Rukungiri Municipality, Residents call for gov’t help.

Rukungiri: Farmers in Kafunjo cell, Kanyinya ward, Southern division, Rukungiri Municipality are counting losses after a hailstorm ravaged their gardens.

The heavy downpour characterized by heavy winds destroyed beans, eggplants, tomatoes, banana plantations, cassava gardens and animals.

Nyamukyonkyo Jasenta and Binobwengye Rose, both residents of the same village told our reporter that this is the second time in period of one week to be hit by the hailstorm.

Binobwengye expressed concerns about food shortages, as most plantations were wiped out, leaving families vulnerable to hunger.

She urged the government to provide relief food to help those affected.

Gidion Turyamubugana, the municipal councilor representing Kanyinya Ward, stated that the government has instructed local council leaders to compile and submit lists of affected residents to the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness.

He emphasized the severity of the situation and urged local leaders to carefully register all victims to ensure no one is left out.

Earlier this month, torrential rains that resulted in flooding killed an old woman and her grand-child, both residents of Nyaruhanga cell, Kahoko parish, Nyakishenyi sub-county Rukungiri district.

The deceased were identified as Rozelina Kyarimpa and her grand-child Forever Akankwatsa, both residents of the same area.

The Nyakishenyi Sub county LCIII Chairperson Wednesday Twinomujuni confirmed the incident asserting that the heavy downpour lasted for close to 3 hours.

Twinomujuni said the duo was washed away by the flash floods when they were returning home from the nearby Buhumuriro cell at around 07:00 PM.

Locals mounted a search for the two and the body of Kyarimpa was discovered yesterday about 09:00 PM in the pipe where it was trapped while the one of Akankwatsa was discovered this morning at around 10:00am

Twinomujuni told our reporter that the rain wreaked havoc in his sub-county, leaving people’s gardens down.