VANESSA A
Residents of four parishes in Buhunga Subcounty, Rukungiri District, are calling on the government to intervene after a powerful hailstorm destroyed crops and damaged homes, leaving many families vulnerable.
The parishes most affected include Kibirizi, Buhunga, Kabingo, and Kihanga. The storm struck on the evening of March 15, 2026, at around 4:00 p.m., accompanied by heavy rains, strong winds, and hailstones that caused widespread destruction.
Local leaders say several crop gardens were devastated, including banana plantations, potatoes, beans, and coffee. The crops, which many households rely on for both food and income, were reportedly left severely damaged, raising fears of food shortages in the coming months.
Residents also reported that strong winds blew iron sheets off several houses, leaving some families without proper shelter.
Leaders from the affected communities say farming is the main economic activity in the area, and the destruction of crops is expected to have serious economic consequences. Many families had hoped to use proceeds from their harvests to meet household needs such as paying school fees for their children.
The situation has been further complicated by the fact that some farmers had recently invested in coffee farming using funds received under the Parish Development Model (PDM), expecting to repay the money after harvesting. With the plantations now destroyed, many farmers are uncertain about how they will recover.
Local authorities in Buhunga Subcounty have acknowledged the damage and say preliminary steps are being taken to assess the extent of the destruction. Subcounty leaders, together with extension workers, have begun documenting affected households in order to compile a report for district authorities.
Community leaders are now appealing to the government, particularly the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, to provide emergency relief support to the affected families as they face the risk of hunger and economic hardship.
