BY JOACKIM KULE
Kasese District Local Government has lost over shillings 84 billion to natural disasters in the past 10 years.
The disasters which the district started experiencing in May 2013 have so far claimed 54 lives of people and caused displacements of more than 5,251 households.
The District Senior Planner, Mr. Joseph Singoma says the district has greatly been affected in all most all sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, socio-economic livelihoods and settlement of the population.
According to him, the education sector has lost shillings 5 billion while the health sector has lost shillings 32 billion including Kilembe Mines Hospital.
The Works and Transport sector has far lost shillings 17 billion has been lost, shillings 5 billion in water sector, shillings 1.2 billion in community based services, shillings 2.9 billion in agriculture and shillings 700 million in natural resources.
Singoma who is the Focal Person for the District Disaster Management Committee also regrets that more than 3,000 acres of crop fields have been destroyed.
He is skeptical that over 80% of the total population that derives its livelihoods from farming could be suffering with food shortage and economic challenges.
Singoma calls for joint efforts by the Central Government and other stakeholders including the local population to put in place measures that could prevent the effects of climate change.
To the local population, Mr. Singoma observed need for everyone to plant trees on the bare hills. ENDS