Residents of Nyabubare village in Kibuga Parish, Karusandara Sub-county, are living in fear as River Mubuku continues to cause destruction through frequent flooding and diversion. The river has burst its banks, spilling into farms and homes, destroying crops, and leaving families facing food insecurity.
Geoffrey Orikiriza, a local landowner with five acres near the river, has seen his property turn into a water passage due to the river’s changing course. Alice Thungu recounted how the floods washed away her home, forcing her to seek refuge with neighbors.She later managed to find a small rental for herself and her seven children.
Local leaders, including Karusandara Sub-county LC III Chairperson Samuel Kamala, have issued an urgent appeal to the government for intervention, warning that ongoing flooding and river diversion have crippled livelihoods for years and call for immediate excavation and restoration of the river’s original channel.
In response, Save the Children Uganda has partnered with the Kasese District Local Government to launch a bamboo planting project along the riverbanks. The initiative aims to reduce soil erosion and create a natural buffer against future floods.
Tom Ndyanabo, a manager at Save the Children, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation through sustainable projects. She said the organisatioin has planted trees along the river banks.
Mustafa Kikusa, Chairman of the District Disaster Management Committee, assured residents that plans are underway to desilt and manually divert the river back to its original course. He emphasized that community participation is crucial for the success of these efforts and urged residents to protect the 1,500 bamboo trees recently planted along the banks.
As efforts to evert the effects of flooding, community members, local leaders, religious figures, school children, and NGOs are coming together to support the initiatives, driven by hope of securing their homes and farms from the erratic waters of River Mubuku-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
