Bussi Island Storm Victims Receive Relief Items

Nalongo Rose Nakyanzi, who was cooking when the incident happened and sustained injuries on the head and right hand, was excited to receive relief. She said that after the incident she was rushed to Ralfa Hospital, a private health facility on the island where she spent a week.

At least 240 people affected by a heavy storm on Bussi Island in Wakiso district have received relief support from government. The storm followed a heavy down pour on April 27th, 2020, which affected 50 families near Kinywante Landing site on Bussi Island.    

On Wednesday, government delivered relief items that were transport by boat from Nakiwogo to the affected people accompanied by the area woman MP, Rosemary Sseninde and other local leaders. The items included 2,000 kilograms of maize flour, 1,000 kilograms of beans, 1,000 iron sheets {1,000) and 390 mosquito nets.

The families will also receive bars of soap, jerricans, buckets and 50 kitchen sets donated by Uganda Red Cross Society and other well-wishers. Sseninde said the relief items were directly donated by President Yoweri Museveni. 

She however, couldn’t personally oversee the distribution and handed them over to Entebbe Deputy Residential District Commissioner, Njuki Mbabali since he heads the COVID-19 Taskforce.  Seninde however, used the opportunity to rally votes for President Museveni.

Nalongo Rose Nakyanzi, who was cooking when the incident happened and sustained injuries on the head and right hand, was excited to receive relief.  She said that after the incident she was rushed to Ralfa Hospital, a private health facility on the island where she spent a week.

She explained that she accumulated a medical bill of close to Shillings 350,000 but the hospital didn’t charge her. Nakyanzi said that when she returned home, she only found pieces of wood where her house stood before the storm. 

She has since taken refuge at the home of Mama Kassim since Monday. Mama Kassim has also been taking care of her child while she was at hospital. Nakyanzi used to sell fried cassava and sweet potatoes to fend for herself and her child prior to the incident.    

Rovinsa Nakiyinji, a mother of four is happy that she is among the beneficiaries of the relief items.Her makeshift home was destroyed, yet it was also where she would sell food to fishmongers. Two of her children also sustained injuries when her makeshift house was destroyed by the storm.

The other two children survived because she had sent them to buy food in the nearby trading centre, 3 kilometers away from the landing site.  

John Karuhanga, a 74 –year-old shopkeeper lost Shillings 1.5 million when his shop was destroyed. He also sustained injuries and was charged Shillings 10,000 in medical bills at Ralfa hospital. He is however happy that he will also receive some relief items.  Only one of the injured persons is still in hospital. 

However, some residents led by Sarah Kateme are unhappy that they were not considered for the relief distribution yet they also lost household items such as saucepans, Jerrycans and plates among others.       

Robert Kiggundu, the Uganda Red Cross Society Entebbe Branch Board chairperson, says his team undertook a survey and identified 50 families that were most hit.  

He said volunteers would distribute the items to the affected people. 

Joan Akello

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