EASTERN PROVINCE
 
Gatsibo—Residents in Rugarama sector on Monday were called upon to do immediate communal work in order to clear the Kayonza-Nyagatare that has been partially destroyed by landslides and heavy rains.

Heavy rains beginning Sunday afternoon and continuing throughout the night has caused serious damage to property including banana, beans and rice plantations.

The road was fixed by late Monday afternoon.

Sector executive secretary John Mushumba said the cause of the landslide was mainly brought about due to previous mining activities carried out in the area.

"Deep holes that were dug during the extraction of corota were left uncovered and when it rains, they fill with water which breaks loose large amounts that can not be controlled by the people in the area” Mushumba said.

One resident, Gerald Sekyanzi, who also happens to be a teacher in Gabiro high school says the landslides are a result of miners cutting trees up in the hills which would have been necessary in preventing soil erosion.

"We organized residents from the sector and people turned up in large numbers to do the communal work which took six hours of hard work.”

About 200 hectares of banana plantations, 200 hectares of beans, 25 hectares of rice, and 45 hectares of maize were destroyed in the cells of Gihuta, Kanyangese, Matare and Matunguru during the downpours.

Among others that were destroyed were houses, home equipments and a bridge that was washed away by the floods.

So far, no deaths have been reported.

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