“A declaration for a state of emergency has been made,” Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Relief Tarsis Kabwegyere said.

The government said last week that some 400,000 people were in need of assistance in Uganda, where at least 18 people have died as a result of the floods.

Kabwegyere said the government had earmarked US$11.5 million (8.2 million euros) to buy food supplies and tarpaulins and deliver them to the affected communities by road and air.

Uganda’s eastern regions were the worst hit by the floods, which have forced camps to be evacuated, destroyed houses, bridges and millions of dollars in crops.

According to the United Nations, at least 1.5 million people have been affected by floods in Africa since what has been described as the worst downpours in 30 years started sweeping the continent in August.

Forecasts in Uganda and the rest of the continent predicted more torrential rains in the coming days.

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