By Alfred Opio
A powerful storm accompanied by heavy rainfall and strong winds has struck Kibale Town Council in Pallisa District, leaving two juveniles dead and destroying more than 200 homes in a devastating downpour that lasted barely 30 minutes.
The deceased have been identified as Peter Epoketome, a one-and-a-half-month-old baby from Ologai Village in Obolliso Sub-county, and Rimon Malinga, a one-month-old infant from Kobuin Village in Akisim Sub-county.
According to local reports, both children were inside houses within Kibale Town Council when the storm struck. One mother had reportedly travelled to attend a burial, while the other had recently returned from abroad and was staying in a newly purchased residence at the time of the incident.
Beyond the tragic loss of life, the storm caused extensive destruction to homes, churches, schools, and plantations. The most affected areas include Opogono, Omukulai, and Ogurur wards, where residents described scenes of panic as roofs were blown off and structures cracked under the force of the winds.
Ben Odaa, LC1 Chairperson of Ogasian Cell, said the storm’s short duration did not lessen its impact.
“Many houses have been cracked down and property destroyed. We are worried about where the affected families are going to sleep tonight,” Odaa said.
Similarly, Michael Angisa, LC1 Chairperson of Opogono Cell, noted that although property losses were significant, no domestic animals or poultry were reported killed.
“If the rain and strong winds had lasted for two hours, many more people would have died and a lot more property would have been destroyed,” Angisa explained.
District authorities linked the scale of destruction to environmental factors. Abraham Omasai, the District Environment Officer, attributed the damage to the lack of tree cover in the affected communities.
“These places are flat and have no trees. If people had planted enough trees, the impact of the strong winds would have been reduced,” Omasai observed, urging residents to embrace tree planting as a preventive measure.
Meanwhile, Louis Patrick Okia, the Pallisa Assistant Resident District Commissioner, confirmed that district leadership will formally write to the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda to seek emergency assistance for affected families.
Authorities are currently conducting assessments to determine the full extent of the damage as displaced residents seek temporary shelter from neighbours and well-wishers.
