Flooding has become one of the most persistent and destructive natural hazards affecting communities in western Uganda, particularly in Mpondwe–Lhubiriha Town Council in Bwera Sub-County, Kasese District. Located at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and along the flood-prone Lhubiriha River, the town council has experienced repeated flood events over the past two decades.
Heavy rainfall, often intensified by climatic variability and environmental degradation, has repeatedly displaced households, destroyed infrastructure, and disrupted livelihoods. Examining multiple flood events over time reveals patterns in causation, vulnerability, response, and resilience, and highlights the urgent need for sustainable flood risk management in this border community.
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Kasese District, situated along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, is characterized by a complex landscape of steep mountain slopes, narrow valleys, and multiple river systems that originate from the Rwenzori highlands. During the rainy seasons—typically March to May and September to November—intense rainfall falls on the upper catchments. The mountainous terrain accelerates surface runoff, feeding rivers such as the Lhubiriha, Nyamwamba, Mubuku, and Sebwe.
When rainfall exceeds the carrying capacity of these rivers, water levels rise rapidly, leading to flash floods downstream. Mpondwe–Lhubiriha Town Council, positioned in a low-lying area near the international border, is particularly exposed to river overflows and debris-laden floodwaters.
Flooding in Kasese is not a recent phenomenon. Historical accounts indicate that communities in the district have faced seasonal floods for decades. However, the frequency and severity of flood events appear to have intensified in the 2000s and 2010s. Population growth, settlement in wetlands and riverbanks, deforestation in upper catchments, and expanding agricultural activities on steep slopes have increased vulnerability. These environmental and socioeconomic pressures have reduced the land’s natural capacity to absorb rainfall, increasing surface runoff and sedimentation in river channels. As a result, rivers now burst their banks more easily during heavy storms.
One of the most significant early flood disasters in recent memory occurred in May 2013, when prolonged heavy rainfall caused multiple rivers in Kasese District to overflow simultaneously. Thirteen rivers reportedly burst their banks within a short period, leading to widespread destruction. Homes were swept away, roads and bridges collapsed, and thousands of acres of farmland were submerged.
In affected areas including Mpondwe–Lhubiriha, families were forced to abandon their homes and seek shelter in schools, churches, and higher ground. The 2013 floods underscored the scale of vulnerability in the district and exposed weaknesses in preparedness, early warning systems, and infrastructure resilience.
In the years that followed, flooding continued to affect the district almost annually, though with varying intensity. Between 2014 and 2019, several rainy seasons brought localized floods that damaged crops, eroded riverbanks, and displaced hundreds of households at a time. Smallholder farmers, who constitute the majority of residents in Bwera and surrounding areas, lost harvests of maize, beans, bananas, and cassava.
The floods of March to May 2020 marked one of the most catastrophic episodes in Kasese’s recent history. After weeks of relentless rainfall, several major rivers burst their banks nearly simultaneously. In Mpondwe–Lhubiriha Town Council, entire neighborhoods were inundated, and cross-border trade infrastructure was affected as roads linking Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo were cut off.
The 2020 floods displaced thousands of people across Kasese District. In Mpondwe–Lhubiriha, many households were forced into temporary camps or sought refuge with relatives. Makeshift shelters sprang up in public buildings, where overcrowding and limited sanitation facilities created additional health risks. The destruction of water sources increased the likelihood of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the socioeconomic consequences were profound. Agriculture, the backbone of the local economy, suffered heavy losses. Floodwaters not only destroyed standing crops but also washed away fertile topsoil, reducing land productivity. Some fields were left covered in sand and debris, rendering them temporarily unusable.
Subsequent years have continued to demonstrate the district’s exposure to extreme weather. Heavy rains in 2023 and 2024 triggered fresh flooding and landslides in parts of Kasese, again affecting vulnerable communities in low-lying areas. Reports of increasingly intense rainfall align with broader climate projections for East Africa, which suggest a rise in the frequency of extreme precipitation episodes.
Several interrelated drivers contribute to the recurrent flooding. Climate change is widely recognized as a factor, but local environmental degradation also plays a critical role. Deforestation in the Rwenzori highlands has reduced vegetation cover that would otherwise slow runoff and enhance water infiltration. Sediment carried downstream accumulates in riverbeds, raising their levels and reducing channel capacity.
Settlement patterns further compound vulnerability. Rapid population growth in Kasese District has led to the expansion of housing into wetlands and floodplains. In Mpondwe–Lhubiriha Town Council, some households have constructed homes in areas historically known to be flood-prone due to limited access to safer land.
Government and humanitarian responses have evolved. In the immediate aftermath of major events, district authorities and national disaster management agencies have coordinated relief efforts, including the distribution of food, blankets, and temporary shelter. Infrastructure rehabilitation has also been a critical component, with efforts made to repair washed-out bridges and reinforce riverbanks.
Early warning systems have gradually improved. Local leaders and disaster management committees now play a more active role in monitoring rainfall and river levels. Despite these improvements, challenges remain in ensuring timely communication to all vulnerable households, particularly those in remote settlements.
Addressing recurrent flooding in Mpondwe–Lhubiriha Town Council requires a comprehensive approach. Structural measures, such as strengthening river embankments and improving drainage, must be complemented by non-structural strategies. These include enforcing land-use regulations, promoting reforestation, and supporting alternative livelihoods that reduce pressure on fragile ecosystems.
In conclusion, the history of flooding in Mpondwe–Lhubiriha reflects a complex interplay of climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. While emergency responses have saved lives, the persistence of flooding highlights the need for sustained investment in prevention and adaptation. Without comprehensive interventions, the cycle of heavy rainfall and displacement is likely to continue, placing future generations at risk.
The writer, Hellen Masika, is a Field Coordinator at Center for Citizens Conserving the Environment.
