Musa Ecweru, the state minister for relief and disaster preparedness, says relief aid is being rushed to Wadelai sub-county in Nebbi district to support nearly 10,000 flood victims.
Ecweru says the aid, comprising of food and non-food items, is expected to leave for Nebbi tomorrow.
The minister says he is also going on the ground to make an assessment of the impact of the floods in order to find a durable solution to the problem.
Ecweru could not give a definitive answer as to why it has taken the government long to respond to the Nebbi disaster compared to other disaster-stricken areas in eastern Uganda.
All he could say was that he has no problem with Nebbi district having served there as resident district commissioner at the turn of the century.
Christine Acayo, the Nebbi woman MP, who visited the flood victims, says the people urgently need assistance especially food and medicines.
Acayo, who together with the Nebbi resident district commissioner, Betty Adima, had to travel via Arua and Rhino Camp, said the sub-county is completely cut off and that is why they had to travel a distance of 160 kilometers instead of the usual 25 kilometers.
The MP says the government should act fast and send relief, adding that it would be unfortunate if the Nebbi disaster victims are treated as if they are different from people in other parts of the country.
Acayo says she has got verbal assurances from the Office of the Prime Minister that aid is being dispatched, but added that the government should walk the talk.
Flash floods from Oraa River inundated the sub-county following heavy rains. Seraphine Alia, the Nebbi chief administrative officer, said the rains started on Saturday September 3rd till September 6th, mainly in upper Nebbi, Zombo and the DRC.
Alia says the most affected parishes are Pakwinyo, Ragem and Mutir with an estimated 10,000 people displaced.
The floods destroyed thousands of acres of crops like upland rice, cassava, potatoes and cotton, indicating bad times ahead for the mainly peasant farmers.
Meanwhile, 120 prisoners as well as prison warders and wardresses and their families, who were displaced by the floods have been relocated to Paidha Prison in Zombo district.
According to Ronald Ofoyrwoth, the Zombo district speaker, the prisoners were relocated on Monday.
