KARONGI /RUTSIRO - A heavy down pour in the two districts of Karongi and Rutsiro yesterday severely destroyed crops and close to 30 houses leaving over a hundred residents homeless.

In Karongi District, the two sectors of Rwankuba and Rubengera were affected with at least 18 houses destroyed while in Boneza Sector, Rutsiro several classroom blocks and close to 10 houses were damaged.

The classrooms were recently constructed under the 9-Year Basic Education programme at two schools.
According to local leaders, most of the destroyed houses include those that had been constructed for the poor and vulnerable residents.

Thomas Murenzi, the district’s Executive Secretary, dismissed earlier allegations that the destroyed class room blocks went down because they were poorly constructed.

"The rain was characterized by heavy winds and hailstones otherwise those houses and classroom blocks were constructed in conformity with the stipulated construction standards,” he said.

Murenzi revealed that the victims had been provided with temporary accommodation as means of setting up permanent settlements are devised.

"We don’t have anywhere else to stay and I surely don’t know what to do next,” lamented Adolph Muhawe, a father whose family of four was left homeless.

Similarly, Yves Bernard Ningabire, the Executive Secretary of Karongi, said the resettlement services are going on to help the affected families.

"We have organized communal work to help build houses for the victims, but the district leadership is planning to support them with funds from the social welfare and emergency funding,” Ningabire said.

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