Kole hailstorm displaces thousands, destroys crops

5 August 2026, 1:27 pm

By Winnie Auma

More than 1,000 households in Kole District are counting losses after a devastating hailstorm destroyed homes and crops across thousands of acres of farmland.

The Member of Parliament for Kole North, Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, said the hailstorm affected 1,268 households and destroyed crops on more than 3,000 acres in Alito Town Council and the sub-counties of Alito, Kede and Aboke.

Dr Acuti said the destruction has left many families in distress, with farmers facing significant financial losses. He warned that the disaster could worsen food insecurity and poverty, as the majority of residents depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

He said the matter has already been reported to the Office of the Prime Minister, but no relief assistance has reached the affected communities. Dr Acuti also noted that hailstorms occur in the area almost every year and urged the government to work with the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture to investigate the recurring phenomenon and develop a lasting solution.

The LC3 Chairperson for Alito Sub-county, Tom Olet, said the disaster has left many residents with little hope of securing food, while some people have been displaced. He called for immediate government intervention, particularly the provision of seeds and food relief to affected communities.

Geoffrey Omara, the LC1 Chairperson of Anekapiri Cell in Alito Town Council, said the incident has left several residents, including himself, homeless. He appealed to the government and well-wishers to support the affected families.