Rain - not everyone’s friend.

Yesterday, here in Kampala, we had the most ferocious rainstorm that I’ve ever experienced. Torrential doesn’t come close. It went as black as night, the rain was like one big continuous bucket of water being emptied, there was hail, thunder and lightening right overhead, trees were uprooted, the roads became rivers. The power and ferocity of nature were shown in a very graphic way. 

I was in a coffee shop at the time, and the inconvenience it caused me was nothing more than the power going off, and having to delay walking home. 

But for my dear friends in Acholi quarters, thr impact of the storm was so very much more. 

At the best of times many of the buildings in this informal settlement are vulnerable - with rusty tin roofs, ill-fitting doors, and bricks and mortar that have definitely started to crumble. There are no tarmac roads or pathways, instead everything is compacted earth. 

So when the storm hit their community the footpaths quickly turned to a mire of mud mixed with any detritus lying about. And the battering of the rain on the buildings has resulted in cracks appearing in some of the homes whilst a few of the other homes didnt survive at all. 

Today has been clear up and assess the damage day, and the community is pulling together to support those who were most affected. Thankfully no one was injured but it was certainly a reminder of just how vulnerable life can be in the eye of the storm. 

The photos below were taken by Miriam as examples of what damage the storm did.