Fire Outbreak in Settlement Camp Leaves 95 Homeless

0

By Spurb Ernest

Residents checking on the ashes left by the fire in Leterwa Settlement Camp, Kaabong district.

A fire outbreak in Kaabong district has left 95 people homeless after their houses were burnt to ashes. This is the second incident in the settlement camp after the first fire in 2024.

The incident happened on Friday at Leterwa Settlement Camp in Kaloula Village, Sidok Sub County. The fire burnt down 24 Manyattas with 85 bags of maize grain. 

Paulina Logiel, one of the affected residents who lost seven bags of maize in her house says that she has nothing left to take care of five children. Logiel says that she had hoped to sell two bags for her son’s school fees when the term opens.

“A bag of maize here ranges between UGX. 200,000 and 240,000. I thought I would get some money for my son’s fees when the term opens but look at me now, just my life and these angry children,” she said while pointing at the burnt houses.

In addition to the food lost, Logiel and other affected residents lost all household items including clothes and cooking utensils. Another resident, Anna Lociama lost 300,000 Shillings in addition to the six bags of maize grain burnt in the house. A mother of four, Lochiama has been buying maize grain to make the local brew known as Kwete.

Markson Lokwang, the Gombolola Intelligence Security Officer- GISO of Sidok Sub County says that Lochiama was one of the PDM beneficiaries. “The money and the maize grain are part of the one million Shillings she received for her business enterprise.

Lokwang says that the fire broke out from one of the houses where a child was sent to light the lamp. He adds that the affected persons have sought shelter from relatives as authorities wait for a response from the government.

According to Lokwang, they have submitted the disaster report to the district with hopes that the relevant government authorities provide some aid to the affected persons.

Since Christmas, wildfire has razed down many households in Karamoja leaving hundreds of people homeless in Nabilatuk, Kotido, and Napak districts. Except for the Kaabong fire, the other fires are caused by herdsmen seeking fresh grass for the animals or those hunting for bush meat.  

Markson

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *