At least 24 families have been displaced in Itula Sub County in Moyo district after their houses were burnt down by a wild fire on Monday afternoon.
The fire outbreak in two parishes of Legu and Pelamuli also killed five goats, six cows and destroyed more than 200 acres of food crops such as cow peas, banana and sugar cane in the two parishes.
Geoffrey Candiga, one of the victims of the fire says about ten acres of cassava in his garden were burnt. Another farmer, Robert Anyanzo, who lost about five acres of sugarcane plantation, asked the sub county and district authorities to investigate the cause of the fire because this is not the first time fire outbreaks have caused devastation in the area.
He says apart from his five acres of sugarcane plantation, he also lost six cows and yet he would be relying on them to earn a living. He says all the food he had in his houses were burnt and there is nothing he can do for the family to survive.
Ceaser Jobile, the LC 3 chairperson of Itula Sub County says they have already asked police to investigate the fire. Jobile says people have continued to burn bushes despite the warning from the district that it could lead to loss of lives and destruction of property. He appeals to humanitarian organizations such Uganda Red Cross Society to intervene and help displaced families who have nowhere to go now.
Last week, 20 families in Adjumani were also displaced when a wild fire started in Amuru district crossed the borders and reduced their houses to ashes.
Because of the constant fire outbreaks, the Adjumani district officials had launched a sensitization campaign aimed at addressing the problem which campaign has failed to change the attitude of the people.
