Overview:
The fire wiped out mangoes, oranges, cashew nuts, shea trees, cocoa, sugarcane, and banana crops he had cultivated over many years, crops that supported both his household income and the local and national food supply. He attributes the rapid spread of the fire to dry grass used as mulch in his orchards.
Thousands of fruit trees and staple crops have been destroyed after a bushfire swept through Got Anyonga Village in Rero Parish, leaving families facing heavy financial losses and severe economic setbacks.
Among the hardest hit is farmer Oguti Yozenia Okumu, who says more than 10,500 fruit trees on his plantation were destroyed.
The fire wiped out mangoes, oranges, cashew nuts, shea trees, cocoa, sugarcane, and banana crops he had cultivated over many years, crops that supported both his household income and the local and national food supply. He attributes the rapid spread of the fire to dry grass used as mulch in his orchards.
The blaze is believed to have started between Kuluber and Ith villages along the Nebbi–Pakwach border on Monday afternoon, spreading rapidly due to strong winds.
Residents report that several farms, including cassava, bananas, sisal, and sugarcane, were destroyed, raising fears of hunger in the area.
Okumu estimates his financial loss at more than two billion shillings, noting that he supplied mangoes and other fruits to nearby markets, including DRC, Luweero, and Kampala.
Earlier this month, Okumu also lost more than 5,000 shea nut trees in a separate nighttime wildfire, leaving fewer than 4,000 standing. He says the community tried to contain that blaze, which is suspected to have started in Vurukojo Village in Panyimur Sub-county during a social gathering. Cultural leaders of Kaal Ker Kwaru Jonam have condemned bush burning in the region, warning that it destroys crops, indigenous vegetation, and soil fertility.
Jawikom Ker Kwaru Jonam, Freddy Opar Kuba IV, emphasized that anyone found responsible for starting wildfires will face both cultural punishments and legal action.
****URN****