By
By Godfrey Olukya 11-3-2013
A mosque was last night destroyed by hailstorm in Uganda.
Nambasa mosque was among the structures destroyed by a severe hailstorm which also blew off roofs of several houses and institutions in eastern Uganda district of Mbale,300 kms east of the capital Kampala.
12 people sustained injuries and over 1300 others including mostly women and children have been rendered homeless after hailstorms destroying their homes.
Also destroyed by the hailstorm were a Nursery school, a high school a church and a health center.
A statement issued by Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson, Catherine Ntabadde said, ‘220 households occupied by 1,320 people have been destroyed by hailstorms and flash floods following heavy rains in Nakaloke Sub County, Nambasa Parish, Mbale district.
The disaster which occurred last night affected four villages namely Namabasa, Nambasa, Doko and Kolongi.’
She said that the hailstorms also destroyed crops for 387 households and 37 pit latrines. A Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) assessment report from Mbale indicates that 387 households (1, 935 people) are at risk of famine because all their crops were completely destroyed.
The assessment also indicated that communities within the affected areas have massively cut down trees due to brick making, hence no wind breakers.
The 220 affected families are currently living with host families. Red Cross, through it’s Mbale region has started distributing relief to
the affected families.
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