Storm Wipes Out Homes, Gardens in Rubirizi as Residents Plead for Urgent Aid

What the report says

Dozens of households in Rubirizi District, western Uganda, are dealing with homelessness and food shortages after a heavy storm with strong winds and hail hit Nyaruharo II Village in Rumuri Parish, Kicwamba Sub-County. According to Nile Post, the weather event lasted about four hours and damaged homes, pit latrines, cooking shelters and crop gardens, while also tearing off the roof of the former Rumuri COPE School.

Residents said crops such as bananas, beans, cassava and potatoes were flattened, leaving families with little to eat. Some affected people told the outlet they had taken loans and received Parish Development Model funds, adding pressure because they still face repayments even after losing their harvests. They also said many children could be at risk of missing school because families lack food and money for fees.

Local leaders confirmed the destruction and said the process of documenting affected households had begun so the damage could be reported to higher authorities. The district agriculture office said it would work with the Office of the Prime Minister and other partners to provide relief items, quick-maturing seeds and other agricultural support so farmers can replant before the season ends. The office also urged residents to adopt measures such as tree planting, windbreaks and terracing to reduce future weather damage. This comes against a broader backdrop of increasing concern about climate-related crop losses in farming communities.