Peter Lokeris, the State Minister of Works led a technical team including the Engineer in Chief, Samson Bagonza on a two-day tour of the flood ravaged areas of Kasese. The region experienced insurmountable damage to both infrastructure and livelihoods when the rivers of Nyamwamba, Lhubiriha. Nyamugasani and Mubuku burst their banks.

The damages included the Mpondwe Lhubiriha bridge that links Uganda to DRC, Isango bridge along Kithoma-Kiraro road, the Nyamugasani lower bridge along Rwentare-Katwe-Katojo road. The Kasese-Kilembe road and Kyanjuku Bridge were also washed away.

The Kilembe Mines Hospital as well as the Kilembe mines machine shops and offices were also severely damaged, the roads leading to and from the mines and the communities are all covered in boulders.

The Ministry is working with the Local Authorities and Uganda National Roads Authority to spearhead emergency action and mitigation measures. Clearing the boulders to pave way for traffic and to find lasting solutions to river management in the region.

Multi-stakeholder efforts are underway to formulate long term River Management strategies. In the meantime, the Ministry has provided more heavy-duty machinery to clear the boulders, the Force Account Division has been sent in to assess the damages in the hard to reach areas. The team, along with the District heads will spearhead emergency action and mitigation measures.

Equipment to open up the drainage systems which have been clogged with debris and silt have also been dispatched.

Corporate Social Responsibility efforts by a range of stakeholders has been received by the District heads, Mota Engil, the contractor for Katungulu-Ishaka road pledged to carry out an assessment and intervene accordingly.

The Honorable Minister concluded the tour by remarking that there is a great need to study the trends and causes of the rivers floods in order to effectively find lasting solutions.