KALANGALA.
Residents of Kalangala District who were hit by destructive cyclone winds in March have finally received the long-awaited government relief, five months after the disaster.
The March 15 heavy storm destroyed homes, toilets, gardens, and business premises in Kalangala Town Council on Buggala Island, killing four people and injuring 33 others. Over 250 households were affected .
In the immediate response, the government delivered food and household relief items as part of its first phase of emergency response,but pledged to give Shs5 million to each household that lost a loved one, Shs1 million to each injured person, and iron sheets to replace blown-off roofs.
Yesterday, Wednesday , the State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Lilian Aber, handed over the second and final phase of relief .Some Shs20 million went to the bereaved families (5 million each),Shs 33 million to the injured (1 million each), and 7,440 iron sheets for reroofing the destroyed houses .
Speaking at the handover ceremony at Kalangala District headquarters, Ms Aber said the government was committed to improving disaster response speed.
“As government, we are ready to respond quickly whenever an emergency occurs. We work with district disaster committees and the Red Cross Society as our foot soldiers to assess the damage,” she said.
She added: “After passing through the bureaucracies and doing all the paperwork needed, we provide the additional support that’s needed like we have done .”
She pledged continued government funding for the Red Cross to remain the first responder during emergencies.
Works and Transport Minister, Gen . Edward Katumba Wamala, who hails from Kalangala praised Aber for her quick response record, recalling her swift interventions in both Kitezi Landfill and Kalangala disasters.
Kalangala Resident District Commissioner ,Fred Badda said the relief list also included older persons, fire victims in Kasenyi, Lujaabwa, and Nakibanga, and police and prison staff whose facilities lost roofing.
“We will ensure this exercise runs smoothly so that everyone gets what they deserve,” he said.
Kalangala District Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli welcomed the relief and lauded the Uganda Red Cross Society for fairly selecting beneficiaries. However, she criticised the chronic underfunding of the disaster ministry.
“The ministry is always overlooked in the budget. Money should be ready to help people when disaster strikes,” she said, also calling on the Ministry of Agriculture to provide tree seedlings for reforestation.
Kalangala’s Uganda Red Cross manager, Silver Semugenyi, revealed that they were working with the Office of the Prime Minister to roll out a tree-planting campaign and set up early warning systems.
“Trees will act as windbreakers, and with warning systems in place, people can prepare for bad weather,” he said.
District Vice Chairperson Resty Nakawungu noted that the cyclone first hit Mazinga Sub-County where about 5,000 residents were affected, before striking Buggala Island.
Some beneficiaries expressed deep gratitude.
“I had purchased some iron sheets ,but they were not enough—this aid will help me finish roofing of my house,” Hanifah Namagembe, one of the beneficiaries ,said