The fire which broke out at around 2pm on Wednesday is believed to have been set by a group of unknown boys but in bushes as they hunted for rats.
A bush fire has destroyed over 400 homes in Lokwakwa village in Kamaturu parish in Lorengedwat sub County in Nabilatuk district.
The fire which broke out at around 2pm on Wednesday is believed to have been set by a group of unknown boys who were reportedly hunting for rats.
John Koryang, a defence secretary of Lokwakwa village said the fire found when most people had left their homes. He said many items such as sleeping materials, plates and other items were destroyed leaving over 1,000 people homeless.
“Thank God the fire didn’t kill anyone or any animals but it has made people homeless,” he said.
Ruth Nakiru, one of the affected persons said all her sleeping materials have been burnt.”I don’t know where to start from since I am a widow struggling with my four children and now the house is burnt,” she added.
Paul Lokol, the district chairperson of Nabilatuk district said many families are struggling because of the current hunger situation which is making young boys burn bushes as they hunt for rats. “They don’t know that because of the current condition of high speedy wind and drought, a small fire burns easily,” he added.
Micheal Longole, the Karamoja regional police spokesperson said the police fire brigade managed to put off the fire before it could cause more damage. “The fire would have burnt the entire parish but the police fire brigade reached in time to put it off,” he said.
Milton Odongo, the resident district commissioner Nabilatuk district said he has sent a team of the district disaster committee to ground to come up with a detailed report that will be sent to the office of the prime minister for any assistance.
Several homes get burnt by wild fire during the dry season in Karamoja.
