Washington — The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) sent an initial sum of $5,000 to assist victims flooded out in the East African country of Uganda. At least six people have been killed while others remain missing.
A number of Baptist churches in the affected regions are sheltering people displaced by the disaster, including one that houses more than 360 people.
On May 1 and 5 heavy rains fell in Kasese District in western Uganda causing flash floods that led to loss of life and destruction of property. Almost 4,000 houses in 57 villages were affected, displacing more than 25,000.
Four rivers, Nyamwamba, Mubuku, Bulemba and Kitakena, burst their banks and destroyed surrounding homes, hospitals, gardens, roads and bridges.
Kenneth Wafula, general secretary of the Uganda Baptist Convention, told the BWA on May 6 that the “River Nyamwamba has burst its banks for the second time since last week, and has so far claimed many lives and displaced thousands of others.” Baptist teams on the ground, he said, are “worried that the disaster may worsen if the river continues to flood.”
Many residents heeded warnings to vacate the area but those who opted to stay were affected by the floods that sealed off a number of roads and submerged several bridges, cutting off whole communities. Mountainous areas experienced severe landslides, destroying homes and farmlands.
Wafula said there is urgent need for food and relief supplies such as water purification tablets, blankets and mosquito nets, among other items.
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