Reconstruction of Flood Hit Kasese Kicks off

Repair of some of the infrastructure that was destroyed during last week’s floods in Kasese district has kicked off.  

Several infrastructure including roads, bridges and buildings were destroyed by the floods, which killed 8 people and displaced more than 3,000 people.

What used to be an area where the Kilembe Hospital Nurses Quarters were located has been replaced by water and heavy rocks. The quarters were all washed away by the floods. The road has been severely cracked.

The ever busy road to Kilembe mines and hospital has been deserted and replaced by the sound of fast flowing water.

At Kilembe Mines hospital, which was badly affected by the floods, construction works are going on. Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces from the construction department were fixing the roofs of some of the wards, while hospital workers were removing mud and water from the wards.

Major General Julius Oketta, the coordinator of rescue and emergency relief services in Kasese, who is supervising the renovation of the damaged infrastructure, told the media that if there are no rains this week, they hope to complete renovation next week and the hospital will be open to the public.

Dr Edward Wafula, the medical superintendent, says that only one private ward and the general ward will be opened before the weekend. He however says that they have requested the Ministry of Health for funds to construct another mortuary, pediatric ward and purchase another X- ray machine, which were all destroyed.

Five temporary bridges are also under construction in Bulembia, Karusandara and Katiri, to enable people access health facilities and schools. Oketta says that they plan to complete construction of the bridges before the beginning to the second term, to enable teachers and children access schools.

In a telephone interview, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Kasese station engineer, Kennedy Kasawuli, says that permanent bridges will be reconstructed after assessment has been done by engineers from the Ministry of Works.

He also says that they are waiting for supplies and equipment to help re-direct the water from the river, which changed its course.

Asked how much money is required to reconstruct the major bridges like Mubuku and Kilembe, Kasawuli estimated that more than 2 billion shillings is needed.

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