Jinja hailstorm destroys factory, homes
Jinja City. PHOTO PPU
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A hailstorm has destroyed property in Southern City, Jinja City. Those destroyed include the stores of Damazo rice processing facility, homes, fruit trees and a two-acre banana plantation.
The hailstorm destroyed the storage facilities, de-roofed part of the factory premises and ravaged the electricity connections.
Juma Mwenekali, the Chief Operations Officer of the rice processing plant, notes that, although the hailstorm struck when the night duty staff were at work, there were no casualties registered.
Mwenekali says that works at the factory have since come to a standstill since electricity power lines were destroyed.
Richard Mwima, the machine operator says that most of the rice was destroyed in the hailstorm and they have resolved to manually dry it under the sun.
A section of residents in the area are also counting losses after their property was washed away in the hailstorm.
Jamir Tibiita, the LCI Chairperson want the disaster preparedness ministry to extend relief assistance to the affected families.
Edinansi Mutesi says that, both her house and banana plantation have been ravaged in the hailstorm, leaving them homeless.
Moses Isiiko, another resident says that his garden and sanitary facilities alike were ravaged in the hailstorm. Isiiko says that he is planning to construct a makeshift house where his family can temporarily settle as he mobilizes resources to repair the premises.
The Jinja Southern Division Deputy Mayor, Maria Kasasa says that they are liaising with local leaders to document a list of particulars of affected persons for consideration by the disaster preparedness ministry.
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