NEWS- Following a 2nd March 2024 devastating hailstorm that ravaged havoc parts of Rukungiri Municipality, a Prominent advocate cum Politician eyeing the Rukungiri Municipality Parliamentary seat in the forthcoming elections Counsel Atukunda Isaac, has made a passionate appeal to the Office of the Prime Minister, requesting urgent intervention to support residents.
In a formal letter addressed to Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Atukunda highlighted the severe impact of the disaster, which ravaged coffee and food gardens, banana plantations, and homes in Karangaro Ward (Western Division) and Ruhega Cell (Eastern Division).
He warned that the affected communities are now facing an imminent risk of starvation, having lost their primary sources of livelihood.
Atukunda commended the government’s previous efforts in providing food relief to Rukungiri District following the September 2024 hailstorm, which mainly affected Rubabo Constituency and parts of Southern Division. However, he urged the Prime Minister to ensure that this time, in addition to food relief, affected residents receive non-food support such as quick-maturing seedlings and financial assistance to enable them to restore their farms and regain self-sufficiency.
“The last time Rukungiri District was affected by a hailstorm, food relief was provided, but people were left in absolute poverty with no seedlings to plant. I humbly request that this time, the government considers providing not just food but also quick-maturing seedlings and financial support to help farmers recover their livelihoods,” Atukunda stated in his appeal.
He further called on the government to establish a Community Seed Bank in Rukungiri Municipality to enhance farmers’ access to resilient crop varieties, citing Objective No. XXII on Food and Nutrition in Uganda’s Constitution, which mandates the state to promote food security and national food reserves.
Atukunda also requested the Prime Minister, or if unavailable, the State Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, to personally visit the affected areas and assess the situation firsthand.
As the community awaits action, Atukunda remains committed to advocating for the well-being of the people of Rukungiri Municipality, emphasizing the need for sustainable relief measures that go beyond immediate food aid to long-term agricultural recovery and resilience.
