Victims of Flooding in Kwania Get Food

KWANIA – At least 757 displaced people in Nambieso Sub County in Kwania District whose houses and property were destroyed by extreme flooding last December have received relief food.

Last December, over 1,800 families in the two Sub Counties of Nambieso and Chawente were washed out by extreme flooding when Lake Kwania burst its banks, destroying houses and property.

However, on June 17 district leaders in Kwania distributed 74 bags of beans and 144 bags of maize flour to the flood victims in the parishes of Bung, Ogwil, Ayabi, Anwangi, Acaba, Owiny and Aornga, in Nambieso Sub County.

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The consignment is part of the 100 bags of beans, 200 bags of maize flour, 500 blankets and 300 pieces of tarpaulins that were sent to the district recently by the office of the Prime Minister.

Albina Awor, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kwania district, said the tarpaulins and blankets will be given out to the most affected victims. He said part of the consignment will be given to families in Chawente Sub County that missed out during the first distribution.

“The floods ravaged a number of villages and left many starving. I went to the Prime Minister’s office begging for help. Part of these items will be distributed to some of your colleagues from Chanwente Sub County,” she said.

Nambieso Sub County Chief, Juliet Atoo, warned the beneficiaries against selling the food items. Feed your families, she said.

A number of residents who received 16 kilograms of maize flour, and nine kilograms of beans lauded the government for giving them a ray of hope amidst all the distress caused by flooding.

Benson Ogwok and James Atim, both residents of Nambieso Sub County, said most families could barely afford a meal or a place to sleep after losing all their property to floods.

“We thank the government for coming in, however we are requesting to be helped with building materials such as iron sheets and cement so that we can construct structures that are resistant to future disasters,” James Atim, one resident said.

Districts near the shores of Lake Victoria, Kyoga and Lake Kwania have continued to battle flood related challenges. Sam Cheptori, the Minister of Water and Environment, attributes the rising lake water levels to prolonged rainfall in the catchment area of the lake sitting in Uganda and East African countries namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

According to the minister, Lake Victoria water levels are increasing and are likely to surpass the highest mark ever of 13.42 meters, hit in May 1965.

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Covid-19 Stirs Scramble For Lemon, Ginger

HOIMA – Lemon and ginger prices are climbing higher in Hoima as demand soars for the fruits deemed to have immunity-boosting properties against the rampaging novel Coronavirus.

There have been more than 72,679 confirmed cases of Covid-19. The virus has killed more than 680 people, according to the June 19 official statistics from the Ministry of Health.

Interviewed for this story, Annette Murungi, a lemon seller in Hoima Central Market, said demand for lemons in the district has outstripped supply.

She said lemons are bought from Gwedo sub-county in Buliisa District but when the ban on inter-district movement came into effect on June 10, traders in Hoima couldn’t replenish their supplies.

She noted that transporting a sack of lemon from Buliisa to Hoima is too expensive because police officers lean on the Covid-19 restrictions to extort money from traders.

She said one big lemon costs about Shs 2,000 and a small one costs Shs 1,000.

https://thecooperator.news/beans-rot-in-omoro-as-second-lockdown-bites/

James Murungi, a ginger and garlic trader, said demand for the two has soared.

According to him, ginger and garlic supplies come from Kampala but that stopped after the ban on inter-district movement. He said a cluster of ginger costs Shs 3,000 up from Shs 1000. He added that a cluster of garlic now costs Shs 5,000 up from Shs 2,000.

Julius Ayesiga, the Hoima Central Vendors Association chairman, said the price for a sack of ginger has climbed from Shs 200, 000 to Shs 500,000. He said a sack of lemon has climbed from Shs 60,000 to Shs 300,000.

He added that transporting such produce to the market is very difficult and suppliers who manage to sneak their products into the district end up hiking the prices.

“Prices had to increase since such fruits are not produced in Bunyoro region and the movement from one district to another is not easy yet there is a growing demand from the population,” he said.

Peter Mwesigwa, a resident in Hoima town, said, “I have been using lemons and ginger to boost the immunity of my family but I cannot manage to buy them because I am a low income earner, I tell you lemon fruits are going to remain for the rich families,” he cried out.

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