Mr Ali Odong, one of the affected locals at his home. His house’s roof was blown off during the Wednesday downpour. Photo By Julius Ocungi.
In Summary
Devastating. The downpour also left a four-year-old girl with broken legs after the house in which she was collapsed on her
More than 30 homesteads were destroyed and one child injured following a devastating downpour in Kal parish, Pabbo Trading Centre in Amuru District on Wednesday.
The four-year-old girl was injured after a wall collapsed on her and broke her legs. She was taken to St Mary’s Hospital Lacor in neighbouring Gulu District.
According to eyewitnesses, the storm blew off iron-sheets from about 20 houses and roofs of about 10 grass-thatched huts.
“We have never seen such a powerful storm in this area. I was with my wife and daughter when it started but when I realised the roof was shaking hard, we ran out and in five minutes, the roof was no more,” Mr Ali Odong, one of the locals whose house roof was blown off, told Sunday Monitor.
His crop harvest of rice and peas and important documents were destroyed by the rain.
Another resident, Ms Lawil Ocaya whose son’s house roof was blown away, blamed the storm on people who have destroyed the forest cover in Kilak Hills for charcoal burning.
Rwot Jakeu Achaye Agole II, the Chief of Pabbo Clan, also said tree destruction in the area has contributed to adverse weather conditions. “Heavy charcoal burning is ongoing in our area, we have warned locals against cutting down trees but no one listens. The sub-county officials have been bribed by businessmen who now buy chunks of forest land for charcoal burning,” Rwot Agole said.
He appealed to the district leaders to intervene in the wanton cutting down of trees for charcoal.
Mr Christopher Ojera, the Pabbo Sub-county chairperson, warned of worse weather disasters unless the tree cutting stopped.
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