Wild bushfire has razed down 20 grass-thatched huts in Pajule Sub County, Pader district leaving at least 150 people homeless. The Pajule sub-county LC V Councilor, Charles Komakech, says that the fire broke out on Friday evening in Tumatoo East and Lutyak in Palenga parish and Bunga Lela West and East in Oryang parish.
According to Komakech, the wildfire suspected to have originated from the neighboring
villages razed down the grass-thatched huts leaving their occupants in the cold. He, however, says that no cases of injuries or death have been reported connecting to the fire.
Mego Agnes Adong, one of the affected residents of Lutyak village, says that the wild bushfire that originated from the neighbouring Ladyaata and Lajwiny villages engulfed the area and no property was rescued from the inferno.
Adong says she lost Shillings 4 million she had earmarked to construct a house, 16 bags of groundnuts, 6 bags of sorghum, 2 bags of simsim, 2 bags of maize grains, a bicycle, and ox-plough.
Nighty Adyero, another affected resident of Bunga Lela West village lost Shillings 3 million she raised from the sale of seven pigs to pay school fees for her children.
She says the wildfire took them by surprise as all family members were busy harvesting pigeon peas in the garden and were only notified after the fire had already caused damage to their household.
Pader district vice Chairperson, Justine Ocen acknowledges the dire situation the affected residents are currently living in, saying that a team of technocrats is on the ground to assess the extent of the damage and solicit support for the affected families.
Ocen cautions residents to desist against setting fires during the peak of the dry season often characterized by humid temperatures, scorching sunshine, and strong winds, which often facilitate wild bushfires.
