At least 24 people have been confirmed dead following flash floods and landslides that hit parts of Mbale this morning.
The floods occurred after a heavy downpour that saw 4 rivers of Nabuyonga, Nashibisho, Nambale and Namatala in Mbale city burst their banks.
In a separate incident, 3 people lost their lives in landslides in Kapchorwa due to the heavy rains.
Among the dead is a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier who has been identified as Private Sam Chemulindwa (26) at Maluku down flooded swamp. His demise and identity was confirmed by the spokesperson third division Maj Isaac Oware.
According to the eyewitnesses ,the floods came after a heavy downpour that lasted 11 hours starting from Saturday night to Sunday morning saw Nabuyonga and Namatala rivers burst their banks to spill over villages.
Sunday night rains caused major floods in Mbale.
Floods wrecked havoc in the eastern Uganda districts of Mbale and Kapchorwa, killing at least 24 and leaving several others missing.
According to the spokesperson Uganda Red Cross Society,Irene Nakasiita ,areas such as Namabasa, Busajabwankuba, Busamaga, Nkoma, Milo taano, and Mbale industrial park were all submerged in water, with bodies floating on the flooded river banks.
This included carcasses of animals drowned in the floods.
Nakasiita explained seven of the deceased were from Mbale after villages including Namabasa and Bugwere Cell as well as three others in Bungoko subcounty were ravaged.
Officials said in Kapchorwa, three people have been confirmed dead and four injured when the floods wreaked havoc in Kapsida subcounty, Chemalim village and Tuyobei Parish.
Meanwhile in Sironko, according to Uganda Ref Cross Society, no deaths have been reported but 480 households have been affected whereas in Bulambuli district 672 households have been affected.
