The government and the Red Cross in Uganda said at least 24 people died in violent floods that swept parts of the east of the country as a result of heavy rains.
Late on Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed in a statement that floods in parts of Bugisu, Mbale, and Kapchorwa initially killed 10 people. However, the death toll rose further on Monday," according to Reuters.
On her part, Ugandan Red Cross spokesperson Irene Nakasiita told reporters that rescuers have so far recovered 21 bodies from Mbale and three others from Kapchorwa.
She added that a truck carrying relief items was on its way to care for the displaced in the affected areas.
Uganda’s Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja visited the scene of the disaster that lies about 300 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of the capital Kampala.
“Police and military marine forces will be coming to help in the rescue and search for dead bodies as we provide relief to the affected population,” her office said.
In the same vein, local reporters told AFP they had seen bodies floating in the muddy brown floodwaters before being removed by police. Several cars were also washed away, along with household goods and personal items as residents moved to higher ground for safety.
Nabbanja suggested environmental damage caused by human activity was to blame. “I believe this disaster would have been avoided if people did not encroach on river banks,” she said in a video shared by her office.
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