Wildfire Destroys 300 Homes in Katakwi

The fire, which broke out on different days this week, spread rapidly, consuming homes and personal belongings, including food supplies, clothing, and building materials.
A bush fire has ravaged Osep and Oedepus parishes in Ngariam Sub-county, Katakwi District, leaving 300 homes reduced to ashes and property worth millions of shillings destroyed.
While no injuries have been reported, the incident has displaced hundreds of families and left them in dire need of assistance.
The fire, which broke out on different days this week, spread rapidly, consuming homes and personal belongings, including food supplies, clothing, and building materials.
The source of the fire remains unclear, but local leaders and residents suspect it could have been started by hunters or Karimojong herders grazing their animals in the area.
Moses Iteit, the LC3 chairperson of Ngariam Sub-county, confirmed the destruction in the flood-vacated parishes of Osep and Oedepus.
He raised concerns about the suspected involvement of Karimojong warriors or hunters in starting the fire.
"About 300 houses have been destroyed. This might have been caused by a stray fire from hunters or herders from Karamoja," Iteit said, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention to assist the affected residents.
Michael Opiok, the LC2 chairperson of Osep Parish, suspects that strong winds may have carried the fire into the area, but he also did not rule out the possibility of it being started by Karimojong herders grazing their animals nearby.
Opiok reported that Osep Parish, which has a population of 1,689 people and over 400 houses, is in urgent need of government assistance.
"The community is devastated. We need iron sheets to rebuild, food to feed the affected families, and improved security to allow people to return safely for rehabilitation," Opiok said.
George Israel Odongo, a resident of Ngariam, described the fire as uncontrollable. He said it destroyed essential household items, including grass for thatching houses, silverware, and food reserves, resulting in double losses for families already struggling to recover from floods.
Odongo called for the government to provide an equalization grant to help the affected families rebuild.
"We need urgent support in the form of iron sheets and food. This is not the first time people near the Karamoja region are facing such challenges. Equalization grants should be prioritized," Odongo said.
Geoffrey Omolo, the LC5 chairperson of Katakwi District, acknowledged that the district was unaware of the incident until recently.
He urged residents to avoid bush burning during the dry season, which has become a growing concern.
"Stray fires are becoming increasingly common. Just recently in Nabilatuk, over 100 homes were destroyed. We must discourage wasteful bush burning to prevent further tragedies," Omolo said.
The bush fire has not only left hundreds of families homeless but has also deepened the existing challenges of food insecurity and poverty in the region.
Local leaders are calling on the government and humanitarian organizations to provide immediate relief, including building materials, food, and security reinforcements.
With Katakwi District bordering the volatile Karamoja region, the risk of further incidents remains high.
The affected communities are now appealing for a long-term strategy to mitigate the risks associated with stray fires, including awareness campaigns and enhanced disaster preparedness measures.
For now, the victims of this devastating fire face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch, with many hoping that the government and well-wishers will come to their aid.