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Tragedy. UPDF soldiers struggle to put out wildfire that left 800 households homeless on Tuesday. PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG
Kotido.
A bush fire disaster has damaged more than 300 homesteads in the two villages of Lomukura and Poet in Watakau parish, Nakapelimoru Sub-county in Kotido District.
The incident that happened on Tuesday at around midday has left more than 800 households homeless.
Heavy smoke could be seen from miles away in the fire that destroyed properties worth billions of Shillings.
Mr John Chila, the Nakapelimoru Sub-county chairman, suspects the strange fire could have been ignited by a group of people who were hunting for rats and other wild animals given the looming famine in the Karamoja sub-region.
He said the community failed to put out the fire due to strong winds that contributed to its rapid spread elsewhere.
“Our people tried to put out the fire using water but they failed because there was too much wind and it was very hot,” he said.
There were no deaths reported but the affected families are now stranded with nowhere to sleep.
According to Mr Chila, people are now sleeping under trees while others have been forced to sleep in the nearby school classrooms.
Mr Ambrose Tukei, the Kotido District LC5 chairman, described the incident as ‘unfortunate’ to the community, which is already facing a food shortage.
He said the fire destroyed including the little food that some households had chanced to harvest in the previous season.
“This fire has worsened the currently hunger situation which the region is going through,” he said.
He appealed to the government and other development partners to rescue the affected families with tapeline, blankets and other household items.
Mr Peter Logiro, the resident district commissioner of Kotido said he has submitted a report to the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs calling for its urgent intervention.
Public warned
“I am in touch with the Ministry in charge of Karamoja Affairs and it is working hard to rescue the affected families, “he said.
Mr Logiro warned the general public against burning bushes, saying it will render many families homeless.
The wild fires in Karamoja Sub- region are very common during dry season, a period where rats, a delicacy that is hunted down by the locals in the region.
Damage.
The fire destroyed more than 300 homesteads in the two villages of Lomukura and Poet in Watakau parish, Nakapelimoru Sub-county in Kotido District.
Effect. The incident happened on Tuesday at around midday leaving more than 800 households homeless.
Cause. Mr John Chila, the Nakapelimoru Sub-county chairman, suspects the strange fire could have been ignited by a group of people who were hunting for rats and other wild animals.
SOURCE; DAILY MONITOR
A bush fire disaster has damaged more than 300 homesteads in the two villages of Lomukura and Poet in Watakau parish, Nakapelimoru Sub-county in Kotido District.
The incident that happened on Tuesday at around midday has left more than 800 households homeless.
Heavy smoke could be seen from miles away in the fire that destroyed properties worth billions of Shillings.
Mr John Chila, the Nakapelimoru Sub-county chairman, suspects the strange fire could have been ignited by a group of people who were hunting for rats and other wild animals given the looming famine in the Karamoja sub-region.
He said the community failed to put out the fire due to strong winds that contributed to its rapid spread elsewhere.
“Our people tried to put out the fire using water but they failed because there was too much wind and it was very hot,” he said.
There were no deaths reported but the affected families are now stranded with nowhere to sleep.
According to Mr Chila, people are now sleeping under trees while others have been forced to sleep in the nearby school classrooms.
Mr Ambrose Tukei, the Kotido District LC5 chairman, described the incident as ‘unfortunate’ to the community, which is already facing a food shortage.
He said the fire destroyed including the little food that some households had chanced to harvest in the previous season.
“This fire has worsened the currently hunger situation which the region is going through,” he said.
He appealed to the government and other development partners to rescue the affected families with tapeline, blankets and other household items.
Mr Peter Logiro, the resident district commissioner of Kotido said he has submitted a report to the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs calling for its urgent intervention.
Public warned
“I am in touch with the Ministry in charge of Karamoja Affairs and it is working hard to rescue the affected families, “he said.
Mr Logiro warned the general public against burning bushes, saying it will render many families homeless.
The wild fires in Karamoja Sub- region are very common during dry season, a period where rats, a delicacy that is hunted down by the locals in the region.
Damage.
The fire destroyed more than 300 homesteads in the two villages of Lomukura and Poet in Watakau parish, Nakapelimoru Sub-county in Kotido District.
Effect. The incident happened on Tuesday at around midday leaving more than 800 households homeless.
Cause. Mr John Chila, the Nakapelimoru Sub-county chairman, suspects the strange fire could have been ignited by a group of people who were hunting for rats and other wild animals.
SOURCE; DAILY MONITOR
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