DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: What it means to have acid poured on your private parts

Stella Kemigabo whose husband allegedly poured a chemical mixed with acid on her private parts. Photo by Ruth Katusabe  

By Felix Basiime and Ruth Katusabe

Posted Tuesday, June 16  2015 at  01:00 http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/What-means-acid-private-parts/-/691232/2752860/-/bdueusz/-/index.html

IN SUMMARY

Stella Kemigabo shares a story of a cheating spouse and domestic violence

My name is Stella Kemigabo and I am 32 years old. I am a resident of Kitumba, Kabegira in East Division, Fort Portal municipality, Uganda.

I met my husband in 2003. He operated a veterinary drug shop in Mpanga market in Fort Portal Town where I used to buy drugs for my parent’s cattle. 

He first hired me as a maid in February 2005 but later turned me into his wife. Issues came when I brought my son (who was not his) to stay with us. He asked me to take back the boy to his father and in August 2006, he gave me Shs 250, 000 for transport to Masindi where the father of my son was based. Instead, I went to Kampala where I stayed with my son”

Reunion
After six years, he came back into my life and convinced me that he was going to look for a school for my son in Fort Portal and pay fees for one year. At the time, my son was studying at Katwe United in Kampala. 
However, before going back to his home, I asked him to meet my grandmother and relatives, which he did, but, he came alone and that was in March 2013.

The pregnancy

I then went back to his home at Kagote village in Fort Portal Town. Two months later, I got pregnant. I was happy but this was shortlived. One Sunday when I returned from church, I found my husband with another woman at home. He beat me until I lost consciousness. I was admitted to Sarah’s Clinic in Fort Portal Town.

While at the clinic, he begged for forgiveness and I forgave him. When I was discharged, we stayed together until I was seven months pregnant. I could not stand his character anymore.

He could not provide anything for me even when I was in labour, I called him and he refused to answer my calls. He only came in to pay the hospital bill and also brought a vehicle to take me to my grandmother’s home.

A month later, my husband convinced me to go back to his home and when I did, I found him in bed with another woman different from the first one I had caught him with.

The attack
In July, 2014, I had gone to see a patient back home but I left my baby behind. On returning home, I found my husband in bed with another woman. 
He jumped out of bed naked and started beating me, he called one of the herdsmen to bring a rope and he tied me before he dressed up. While on the ropes, my husband called someone else who came on a motorcycle.

The trio carried me to a nearby forest and made me lie down and put my baby beside me. My husband asked the porter to remove the rope and wrap it around my neck and tied me on a stump, I tried making an alarm but I was over whelmed.

My husband asked the porter to bring a jerrican which contained a liquid like acid, he poured it on my waist and other lower parts. That is when I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I was at Sarah’s Clinic in Fort Portal Town where I was told that I was found in bushes in Kagote with my child at around 11pm after passersby heard a baby crying in the bushes and alerted security. I was then transferred to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital where the medical staff confirmed that I was splashed with a chemical mixed with acid.

Authorities’ take
When contacted, Joshua Tusingwire, the officer in charge of criminal investigations at Fort Portal Central police station.
“As police, we have done our part, re-writing an additional statement from the victim and attached it to the file which is currently with the State Antony for advice. 
The case is before Grade I magistrate’s court. 

Some area councilors said last year, they tried to follow the case at police but the police was not forthcoming.

Current state
I cannot stay in public for four hours because my body emit a bad odour due to the pus that oozes from my private parts. 

The drug that I was prescribed to take is at Shs17, 000 weekly which I cannot raise consistently since I don’t have any job. 

I have to wear diapers all the time and I have no hope of getting married again. I was referred to Kampala for further treatment but I do not have money for transport, upkeep and treatment.
However, I was told that my uterus was affected by the acid. I, therefore appeal to the authorities to help me get justice.

Struggle for justice

I reported the case to Fort Portal central police station. I found two officers at the counter; one of them was Ms Nyakaisiki.

When I told her my story, she instead told me I was under arrest since my husband had reported a case against me of attempted suicide.

However, I undressed and showed the police officers the wounds that were oozing blood and pus. Nyakaisiki then took me back to Fort Portal Regional Hospital where my story was proved. I made the statements and opened the case file (CRB/522/15) against my husband.

The next day when I went back to police, a certain police officer asked Nyakaisiki to hand over my case file.
My husband was arrested.I found my husband talking to the said police officer and on seeing me, he knelt down and begged me for forgiveness which I turned down but to my surprise, the officer in a strong voice told me that I have to forgive my husband.

Whether I like it or not. He added that if men can cut off their women’s arms, legs and other parts of the body and women forgive them and go back to their marriage, who am I to do otherwise, he continuously backed at me saying I should sign the police statement. 

He did not even give me an opportunity to read it and later said in two weeks I should sort out myself, I later signed on statements.My husband then drove me and dumped me at Dr Kisakye’s hospital and did not pick my bill of Shs420, 000 for the treatment that was later paid by my sister.

Later police officers wrote a statement that my husband and I had accepted to separate and was ordered to give me Shs10, 000 every week as upkeep for the child which he never fulfilled. 
I kept going back to police after three months and my husband slapped me twice in the presence a Sergeant at the police station who also said I was becoming problem.

When Rwenzori became a conflict hotspot

Residents cover graves of two of the people who were killed during an attack at Ruhita Cell Hima Sub-county, Kasese District in July. File photo

Inter-tribal clashes, demonstrations, divisions marred the region that is yet to come to terms

ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 | BY- FELIX BASIIME, ENID NINSIIMA & RUTH KATUSABE (http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/News/News/When-Rwenzori-became-conflict-hotspot/-/2466686/2572524/-/format/xhtml/-/mgtdbqz/-/index.html)

Rwenzori- The year 2014 has turned out to be the busiest year that recorded the most historic events in the Rwenzori sub-region in this decade.
The sub-region is comprised of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts.

It is endowed with rich culture where cultural institutions like Tooro Kingdom, Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, Obudhingiya Bwa Bwamba (latest), Busongora Cultural Heritage and the Banyabindi Kingdom.

The area is also endowed with rich mineral and tourist attractions such as Kilembe mines, salty Lake Katwe, several lakes and rivers, tea plantations, the snowcapped mount Rwenzori and several national parks.
This year had a mixed bag of happenings and issues ranging from armed attacks, tribal clashes, floods and a new kingdom.

Jilted lover kills 10
The rucks began early on in the year. On April 11, a UPDF soldier shot dead 10 people over a woman in a bar brawl at Karugutu Trading Centre in Ntoroko District. Pte Chris Amanyire, attached to Rhino Battalion at Kanyansi Barracks, also shot himself dead. Those he killed included five soldiers and 25 others were injured.

Floods displace thousands
As the dust was settling on the crime of passion, floods returned to the region on May 8, subsiding after more than 15 lives were lost. Properties worth millions of shillings were destroyed and more than 2,000 people were displaced by the gushing waters descending Mountain Rwenzori, carrying along boulders.

Church attack
The region continued to swing from bad to worse. On June 26, about 15 unknown gunmen attacked overnight worshippers in Kyegegwa District. The attackers beheaded a worshiper at the all-night prayer session and planted her head on the altar.

In an offensive and hateful manner, the attackers also burnt the church, and killed Assistant Inspector of Police Grace Mwine in the ensuing fight. The then UPDF spokesman for the Rwenzori region, Lt Ninsiima Rwemijuma, claimed long-running hostility between the Muslims and Christians in Kyegegwa.

On July 5, the Banyabindi community in Kasese District held a memorial function at Muhokya Sub-county headquarters to commemorate the life of their comrades who perished during the Rwenzururu struggle 50 years ago.

The bloody tribal clashes
But hardly had they crowned the day news filtered in of the simultaneous tribal attacks in Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts. When the joint force of the army and police restored normalcy, more than 90 people had been killed and several others injured.

Kingdom officials arrested
As security searched for answers, on July 7, operatives arrested Rwenzururu Kingdom officials who were accused of masterminding the attacks. They included the prime minister, Mr Noah Nzaghale and his deputies; Yeremia Mutoro.

On July 8, the army general court martial started trying suspects of the July 5 attacks. It was trying 126 in Bundibugyo and 54 in Kasese on different days.

On September 22, a former radio presenter on Arua-based Fm, Mr Manisulu Hamis was killed at Mariana Club, Lodge, Restaurant and Bar and his body has never been recovered to date.

Uganda’s first Marburg case
On September 28, Uganda had the first case of Marburg, which the Health ministry confirmed was of Ibrahim Bwambale, a radiographer who was working with Mengo hospital, and died at the same facility. He was buried at his ancestral home in Kitsutsu village, Munkunyu Sub-county in Kasese District.

Later, panic gripped the district for about a month as investigations of more cases continued.

On October 12, the Bamba cultural leader, Lt Col Martin Ayongi Kamya, and King Charles Wesley Mumbere of Rwenzururu reconciled and resolved to end the cultural differences among their subjects. The historical meeting was held in Mubende Town.

On October 19, the Rwenzururu Kingdom held the 48th Coronation Anniversary, where the occasion was graced by Vice President Edward Ssekandi. The Bamba cultural leader (Omudhingiya), Lt Col Martin Ayongi Kamya also attended as a sign of reconciliation.

On October 25, an elephant was burnt after it strayed into Karambi, Bwera sub-counties and Mpondwe –Lhubiriha town council. The 25-year old male mammal was found dead in Mirami village in Karambi Sub-county. It died due to fatigue, stress and hunger. UWA burnt the carcass to prevent locals from eating it.

More floods in Ntoroko
On November 1, floods wreaked havoc in Ntoroko District, displacing more than 5,000 people after rivers Lamia and Semuliki burst their banks. The floods also disorganised at least 474 Primary Seven candidates who were forced to write their Primary Leaving Examinations in makeshift tents after floods submerged most areas and made access to schools difficult.

On November 3, Primary Leaving Exams started around the country, however, in Kasese it was written by several breast feeding mothers and pregnant girls as cases of early marriages are high in the district.

On November 12, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) confirmed that they were holding Dr Kizza Besigye’s aide Mr Sam Mugumya. This was after one week of Mr Mugumya’s disappearance. This was revealed by Brig Muhindo Akili, the commander of the North Kivu Province in DRC, during a press briefing at Kasindi on the DRC side of the border.

On November 13, Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali visited South Rwenzori Diocese and was hosted to a dinner by Kasese Woman MP Winfred Kiiza and Bukonzo East MP Yokasi Bihande.

More than 100 suspects set free 
On December 8, the Army General Court Martial sitting in Bundibugyo Town set free 126 people accused of participating in the July 5 attacks in Bundibugyo.

GLIMMER OF HOPE RUINED BY POLITICS

Then came a glimmer of hope. In the same month, Tooro King Oyo Kabamba Iguru was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Vietnam Buddhist University in Hanoi Vietnam. King Oyo was accordingly recognised for his exemplary service to humanity.

Perhaps buoyed by the achievement by their king, more than 100 Tooro subjects walked to Parliament a week later, demanding government returns the kingdom assets aka ‘ebyeitu.’ The group of mainly youth had spent four days walking to Parliament from Fort Portal Town to present a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, demanding for the return of the kingdom’s assets held by the central government.

As the Batooro were sizing up with government, something was brewing in the neighbourhood. On May 30, President Museveni presided over the crowning of Lt Col Martin Kamya as Omudhingiya wa Bwamba in Bundibugyo.

On July 14, the King of Tooro started fasting for a week, protesting what he saw as President Museveni’s decision to create more kingdoms within the greater Tooro monarchy. He fasted also for the return of ‘ebyaitu’ or kingdom properties.

The chiefdoms complained of then were the Rwenzururu which constituted Busongora and Bukonjo counties in the old Tooro Kingdom and Bwamba County, which now have independent cultural leaders. The king who was at his palace Karuzika in Fort Portal was joined by the royal family and the subjects in a solidarity move.

However, President Museveni down played the fasting issue and said King Oyo would be healthy if he fasted, a statement that triggered demonstrations in Fort Portal Town from Amacumu n’ebitara by’Omukama (Youth of the King of Tooro).

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

ROAD TO 2016: Kabarole expects a two-horse race between Businge and Mutuzo

Victoria Businge Rusoke

Peace Ragis Mutuzo

 

Sylvia Rwabwogo

Helen Kasande

 

PHOTOS BY FELIX BASIIME 

By Felix Basiime

Posted  Saturday, November 29   2014  (http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Kabarole-expects-a-two-horse-race-between-Businge-a/-/688342/2537998/-/crwomu/-/index.html)

IN SUMMARY

Seemingly an NRM stronghold, Kabarole’s political success determinant is a cocktail of money, political affiliation and views of opinion leaders. The Woman MP seat is one of those that will prove if NRM is still popular in this district.

Kabarole- In Kabarole District, an interesting sub-plot is emerging where the Woman MP Victoria Businge Rusoke race is likely to tussle it out with four other contestants in the 2015 NRM primaries as the first hurdle to jump in a bid to retain a seat she easily won in 2016.

This seat was first warmed by Ms Joan Kakima Rwabyomere before Beatrice Kiraso came in through a by-election in 1996 and run it for two terms before she threw in the towel and Ms Margaret Mugisa Muhanga Abwooli found a gap to fill in 2006.

Much as the voting has tended to maintain NRM dominance, elections in Tooro have been determined by socio-cultural, economic and political factors in the past. This time round, a combination of other factors are at play including party affiliation, the former premier Amama Mbabazi factor, individual merit, ethnicity, religion and service delivery.

Also, the existance of very many opinion leaders, and money will also be a determinant because of the poverty levels.

Asked whether people would again choose candidates based on party affiliation or individual merit, Ms Nyakato Rusoke, the FDC secretary for women in Kabarole District, said: “None of those will count for voters; politics in Uganda has completely changed. The NRM party has highly commercialised elections to the extent that now people follow money not the best candidate addressing issues or choose on party affiliation.”

However, Mr Yakubu Gowoni, an opinion leader who was delegated powers to hold the docket of the party’s chairperson in Kabarole, disagrees. “Party affiliation and the dominating person of President Museveni in Tooro region, particularly Kabarole, will again affect the result of the vote,” he insists.
Evidence from past elections show that the NRM enjoys overwhelming support and representation in Kabarole and Tooro at large. As such, the Opposition is likely to find it difficult to breakthrough in 2016. In 1996, President Museveni got 97 per cent of the votes cast. In 2001, he got 89 per cent then 87 per cent in 2006.

The victory determinants
“This is definitely an NRM area where there has always been landslide victories from local to national level. Party affiliation and the person of Museveni takes precedence here than any other factor,” says Gowon, adding: “Services takes number two, individual merit and then money last. Here, few people follow the money to decide who to vote for unlike their counterparts in urban settings.”

However, the LC I chairman in Karambi Sub-county thinks there has been a slight shift. He says all village chairpersons in Karambi met last month and resolved that they will mobilise for any candidate who brings money.

“We voted for the MPs and asked them to push government to raise our monthly allowances but to our surprise the first thing the MPs did in Parliament was to raise their personal pay, they are very selfish,” one of the LCI chairpersons, who preferred anonymity, told Saturday Monitor.

Ms Joan Kebirungi, a resident in Fort Portal, believes that the Mbabazi factor will trickle down and will affect the voting pattern both at national and local levels ahead of the 2016 elections.

“This is very clear, whether Mbabazi stands for presidency or not, his factor in the current politics will definitely affect the voting pattern in Uganda starting with the NRM primaries in 2015 up to the national level,” Kebirungi says, reasoning that: “People are just quiet but will choose some candidates basing on the Museveni-Mbabazi factor, the differences are there [though] very silent.”

Meanwhile, Mr Patrick Baguma, an opinion leader, says: “people in Kabarole tend to vote for candidates who they think are close to Museveni but not NRM, however, here ethnicity and religion are the other factors. The Bafuruki (Immigrants) have higher numbers than Batooro and tend to vote as a bloc that is why people like MP Kagwera (Burahya) will remain in Parliament until he retires”.

Although four aspirants have declared to stand against the incumbent, political watchers in Kabarole say it will be a two-horse race between the incumbent and Peace Mutuzo, senior private secretary in charge of welfare in State House.

Ms Nyakato Rusoke, the FDC secretary for women, indicates that her party is yet to decide whether it will field a candidate in this race. “FDC is yet to decide whether it will participate in the 2016 elections until the push for electoral reforms is effected,” Ms Nyakato said. “It is still early now for FDC to say we shall field a candidate for any position.”

The incumbent’s contribution
Ms Rusoke counts her lobbying for President Museveni’s support to Saccos in Kabarole, distributing culverts to different sub counties, lobbying for a tractor and heifers for Tooro babies home from First Lady Janet Museveni. She has supported education too, buying examination printing machines for schools in the district.

But Ms Mutuzo, Rusoke’s biggest challenger, is busy donating coffee seedlings to farmers and has organised some women and youth groups into self-reliance projects such as apiary. She says she is doing this in phases in Bunyangabu, later in Burahya and Fort Portal municipality.

“My survey so far is that families in Bunyangabu use three jerrycans of contaminated water per day instead of the required eight, they live on Bilharzia tablets.

They spend so much more on firewood, I have trained the locals in simple technology to tap safe rain water, use energy saving stoves, engage in baking, brick laying, soap making and bio gas,” says Mutuzo.
 

But Helen Kasande points at what she calls poor service delivery as the reason she is offering herself for election.

“There is poor mobilisation of women in this district if you compare it with other districts like Mbarara; the youth here don’t have jobs, there is no programme to cater for the youths who never went to school,” says Kasande.

In that respect, Kabarole is not very different from other constituencies around the country, but it still stands out as the one area where the President Museveni’s personality could still tilt the balance.

Who is likely to contest for Kabarole Woman MP seat?

Peace Ragis Mutuzo. Holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Management from Uganda Management Institute (UMI); Makerere University bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a Diploma in Education at Bishop Stuart from NTC, Kakoba. At Bishop Stuart, she was elected guild president.
Before President Museveni put her in charge of Youth (National) in 2005, she was an assistant private secretary in charge of the Youth (Western).

Ms Mutuzo was promoted to senior private secretary in charge of welfare in State House in 2008.

Nestor Basemera. Holds a diploma in education from Bishop Stuart NTC Kakoba and a Kyambogo University Bachelor’s in Education. Worked at Mountains of the Moon University and Makerere University as a teaching assistant and at Nyakasura School as a senior woman.

Sylvia Rwabwogo. Is a journalist plying her trade at Hits Fm in Fort Portal town. Is deputy speaker for Kabarole council and a councillor representing East Division.

She advocates for women emancipation through her radio programme and also encourages people to work hard for the development of their families. 
Holds a diploma in journalism and a Bachelor’s degree in Social and Community Development from Mountains of the Moon University.

Helen Kasande. Is the human resource manager at Mpanga tea grower’s factory. 
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Makerere University; a diploma in community-based rehabilitation from Kyambogo University; diploma in human resource management from UMI, and a certificate in administrative law.

Victoria Businge-Rusoke. A first term MP, the Kabarole Woman representative holds a Master of Education from Makerere University (2001), Bachelor of Education, Makerere University (1991), Diploma in teacher education from Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo (1986), Grade II teacher certificate, Makerere University (1980), East African certificate of education, 1977.

Was District Education Officer, Kabarole from 2003 to 2010; head teacher Kalinaabiri Primary School February to July 2003; head teacher Old Kampala Primary School 1997 to 2002; head teacher City Primary School 1994 to 1995; deputy head teacher Nakasero Primary School 1991 to 1993; tutor Kibuli TTC 1986 to 1990 and teacher Shimoni Demonstration School 1980 to 1985.
She sits on Parliament’s committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry and on the Appointments Committee.

What Uganda government can do to solve floods in Ntoroko district

Children in a submerged hut in Budiba in Ntoroko District. Floods are a chronic problem in Ntoroko. Photo by Ruth Katusabe

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Thanks-for-relief-items--but-fix-flooding-too---Ntoroko-leaders/-/688334/2516056/-/view/printVersion/-/gm9ee0/-/index.html

In Summary

Demand. Ntoroko leaders have demanded that government should find ways of stopping rampant flooding in the district, that displaces hundreds of people every year and destroys property. They say providing relief items such as food, tents, blankets and jerricans is not enough, writes Felix Basiime and Ruth Katushabe

On Saturday night, November 1 Ms Sofia Byanjeru, 50, a resident of Budiba Sub-county in Ntoroko District awoke to a wet bed.

At first she thought her children had wetted her bed but to her shock she realised floods had submerged her house.

“The whole house was full of water to about two feet above the ground,” Byanjeru says, adding “I made an alarm and fled with all family members for our dear lives. Other people in the neighbourhood had started to escape, so we were ferried on a canoe to Budiba centre and we had to pay Shs 1,000 per person.”

Ms Byanjeru is among the more than 5,000 people in Ntoroko who were last week displaced by floods caused when rivers Lamia and Semliki bust their banks.

The floods destroyed houses, roads, crops and killed several livestock and poultry.
The affected areas include: Budiba, Kanara, Bweramule, Butungama and parts of Rwebisengo Town Council.

The floods compelled at least 474 Primary Seven candidates in Ntoroko District to do their Primary Leaving Examinations in tents after some classrooms and roads were submerged.

Floods are a chronic problem in Ntotoko which plague the district every rainy season, displacing hundreds of people and leaving a trail destruction.

Every time floods occur houses are damaged; crops destroyed and roads are rendered impassable, hindering education, livelihoods and provision of social services.

According to environmentalists and Ntoroko residents, the flood waters this time came in bigger volumes. Environmentalists say this is an indicator of increased environment degradation upstream of River Semliki and downstream in Ntoroko.

Ntoroko officials have called upon the government to go beyond providing relief items such as food, tents and blankets to flood victims as it always does whenever floods occur in the district, and find ways of stopping the floods.

The district chairperson, Mr Timothy Kyamanywa, recently told Vice President Edward Ssekandi: “We are tired of getting relief aid every year whenever the district is affected by floods. So find other means of stopping these floods because government is spending much to get relief aid for the affected people.”

Almost every year, the State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Mr Musa Ecweru, visits Ntoroko to deliver relief items to the people affected by both floods and drought.

Government and other bodies such as the Red Cross have done this for the last four years since the area is affected by floods in rainy seasons and by drought in dry seasons.

The district environment officer, Mr Herbert Kamuhanda, explains that there are a combination of factors that bring About the floods.

He says uncontrolled human activities causes River Semliki to bust its banks.
Mr Herbert adds that glaciers on Mount Rwenzori are melting more rapidly due to climate change, thereby releasing more water to the streams that feed River Semliki.
 

“Other waters stream into the Semliki valley, part of the Western Rift Valley causing floods,” he says.
Environment experts say overgrazing, and other alterations to the watershed have caused bank erosion and frequent changes to the course of River Semliki.
 

Mr Kamuhanda says: “Most rivers: Lamia, Ndugutu, Nyahuka, Ngite and Kirumia (all in 

Bundibugyo) are watered by the glaciers on Mount Rwenzori and all empty into River Semliki.
There are several human activities causing flooding and the changing course of River Semliki.”
 

He adds: “At Rwamabare, Kakahenda village in Ntoroko District, water flows to the communities due to siltation of River Semliki. Upstream in Bundibugyo, people cultivate on the river banks and mine sand. At Ntandi (also in Bundibugyo), people throw waste into River Kirumia which is a middle stream of River Semliki causing siltation and the river bed rises causing banks to bust”.
 

Mr Kamuhanda says at Rukora in Bweramure (Ntoroko), there has been over stocking of animals on free range system and the pastoralists have created several watering points on the river banks causing siltation leading to the river changing its course.
 

He adds that at Masaka in Butungama and at Kiranga in Rwebisengo Sub-county, people dig channels to divert water from River Semliki to water their animals or catch fish and when the river busts its banks, these channels lead water to the communities.
 

According to research conducted by the Climate Change Unit and the Ministry of Water, 198.5 hectares of ice disappeared between 1906 and 2006 on Mount Speke, one of the highest peaks on the Rwenzori range. Most of the melting occurred after 1987.
 

Ntoroko officials and environment experts have proposed several solutions to address the flood problem, including building a dam to store the excess water from River Semliki during the rainy season and using it during the dry season.
 

“It is very costly but the excess water can be tapped and dammed and used during the dry season,” Mr Kamuhanda says.
 

Hydrological and climate change experts advise that something must be done to address siltation and climate change in the catchment areas of River Semliki to control flooding downstream.
 

“River bank regulation must be enforced, especially in Ntoroko District where the law requires 100 metres protection zone where there must be minimal human activities to allow natural rejuvenation,” says Mr Jeconious Musingwiire, the western region National Environment Management Authority awareness officer.
 

He adds: “Flooding is mainly contributed by siltation, so siltation should be controlled and to tame the effects of climate change, the whole catchment area where this river drains from must promote afforestation.” The recent floods despite disrupting PLE exams and displacing hundreds of people, have brought some fortune too.
 

Fish from River Semliki have ended up in shallow flood waters in areas far away from the river where several people catch them easily and sell them at affordable prices to displaced people.
 

A big fish goes for between Shs15,000 and Shs20,000.
Some youth have taken advantage of the floods to make money through offering transport services on their canoes.
 

They charge Shs1,000 per person for the shortest distance.

River Semliki

Semliki River flows northwards from Lake Edward in the Democratic Republic of the Congo across the Uganda border, through western Uganda in Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts near the Semliki National Park. It empties its water into Lake Albert.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the Semliki catchment area is under a lot of pressure due to increasing population and poor management of natural resources. 

Deforestation and uncontrolled cattle grazing is leading to widespread erosion.
This, together with the melting of ice on the Mount Rwenzori, a result of climate change, has resulted in siltation, affecting water quality and changing the river course significantly over the years as it enters Lake Albert.

Ntoroko District

District: Ntoroko District is located west of the Rwenzori Mountains. It was carved out of Bundibugyo District in 2010.
 

It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Hoima District to the northeast, Kibaale District to the east, Kabarole District to the south and Bundibugyo District to the southwest. 

Economy: Its major economic activities are fishing, farming and business. Cattle and goat rearing is in Rwebisengo and Nombe, crop farming in Karugutu, Butungama and Bweramule while fishing in Kanara.
 

Flood woes: According to the district chairman, Mr Timothy Kyamanywa, the floods have stretched the district budget and resources by increasing the cost of containing malaria, especially among the children and malaria drugs are running out.