Joel Ssenyonyi, the leader of the opposition in parliament, has called upon the government to intervene and assist the people of Buvuma in dealing with the devastating impacts of climate change. Currently, rising water levels have led to the submersion of several houses in water, creating a dire situation for the residents.

Ssenyonyi voiced his concerns during his visit to Buvuma Islands, where he attended belated women’s day celebrations organized by the area woman member of parliament, Susan Mugabi Nakaziba.

Buvuma District, comprising 52 islands, is bordered by Jinja District to the north, Mayuge to the east, Tanzania to the south, and Buikwe District to the east and northeast. One of these islands, Lubya, is particularly challenging to access, with canoes being the quickest means of transportation.

The island's residents face significant challenges, drawing water directly from the lake and grappling with flooded pit latrines due to heavy rains. Ssenyonyi expressed shock at the dire conditions during his visit and emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues irrespective of political affiliations.

“These people are extremely resilient. I have visited the health center, and it is in a very dire state. There is not much happening. The schools are makeshift. There are no tarmacked roads in the whole district. It is as if they are not part of Uganda. We talk about these things, and some think that we are politicking. It is good to come on the ground because we make reports about this,” Ssenyonyi remarked.

In response to the ongoing hardships faced by the community, Woman MP Susan Mugabi Nakaziba donated assorted items to support the women in coping with the challenges they are experiencing.