Kampala — Oil Exploration Company CNOOC Uganda, has distributed relief aid to 81 families in Buhuka Parish, Hoima district following a hailstorm that killed 10 people and left many homeless on December 15.

CNOOC donated relief items including; 4,500 kilograms of rice, maize flour, and beans, fishing nets and floaters to families of the deceased and those who were displaced by the deadly hailstorm.

Zakalia Lubega, the corporate social responsibility manager, CNOOC Uganda, said the donation is meant to give some temporally relief to the affected people. "As CNOOC, we were greatly touched by the disaster that occurred in Buhuka Parish which is near our Kingfisher oil well. We decided to give these items to sympathize with the people in our areas of operation," he said.

"This relief is meant to partly rehabilitate the lives of those who were affected by the disaster and to restore their livelihood," Mr Lubega added. Areas that were affected by the hailstorm include; Nsonga village, Nsuzu, Kyakasanvu, & Kiina.

Cyprian Dhikusoka, the Principal Disaster Management Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister commended CNOOC Uganda for its gesture to the Buhuka community.

"We apologise for government's delayed intervention but promise to provide more relief items to the affected communities," remarked Dhikusoka.

CNOOC was established by China's State Council (cabinet) in 1982, to serve as the Chinese partner of international oil companies exploring and extracting oil and gas in Chinese waters.

The corporation and its subsidiaries have grown strongly, to become one of the world's largest "integrated" oil companies.