An evening downpour on Friday characterized by heavy hailstorms has left a lot of destruction in Zirobwe town council in Luwero district.
The hailstorms destroyed over 50 houses, and hundreds of acres of crop gardens in Zirobwe town and Zirobwe sub county.
The most affected areas include; Bukimu, Mpangati villages in Zirobwe town council and others in Zirobwe sub county.
Paul Kyeyune, the LC 1 Chairman of Mpangati village explains that the heavy downpour started at around 5:45pm and lasted an hour. Kyeyune adds that the heavy downpour characterized by hailstorms blew off iron sheets from houses in leaving the occupants in cold throughout the night.
Kyeyune adds that the hailstorms also destroyed crop gardens of over 200 households leaving the families at risk of hunger.
Osugwar Balikuddembe, a farmer at Mpangati village says that the hailstorm destroyed his two acres of cassava and another banana plantation.
Balikuddembe said that he had borrowed money from the Parish Development Model Programme for planting but is now stuck after everything was destroyed plunging him into poverty.
Other farmers also decried huge losses after the hailstorm destroyed coffee, tomatoes and other crops.
Harriet Jenifer Nabulime, a dealer in men’s clothes and shoes in Bukimu zone is also crying foul after she lost a stock worth eight million shillings after the hailstorms blew off the roof of her shop. Nabulime was found in tears because she had stocked merchandise after acquiring a salary loan.
Robert Ssekitoleeko, the Bamunanika County Member of Parliament says that atleast 600 farmers need seedlings to replant after their crops were destroyed and some are waiting for food relief.
Ssekitoleeko adds that affected households need iron sheets for re-roofing and appealed to the Ministry of Disaster Relief and Preparedness to come to their rescue.
According to the Uganda National Meteorological Authority, Luwero and other districts in the central region have been receiving isolated light showers indicating the onset of the seasonal rainfall. The peak rain is expected around mid-April with cessation around early June.
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