Martin Owor, the Commissioner Disaster Management in the Office of the Prime Minister disclosed that OPM and Police teams have been dispatched to join District Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs) of the affected districts to try to manage the crisis.
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Tourists van seen submerged in floodwaters on River Nile along Pakwach - Karuma highway. Photo Credit: Uganda Red Cross
Heavy floodwaters have submerged the docking pier at Paraa in
Murchison Falls National Park.
This follows water levels that substantially rose on Tuesday afternoon on the
River Nile making it difficult for vehicles to enter the ferry.
A safety alert statement
issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority - UWA, indicates that Tangi River
Bridge built in 2013 has become impassable due to the floods. Tangi gate is
110km from Karuma Bridge along Pakwach road.
The devastating floods, the worst of its kind has also paralyzed traffic flow
along Karuma and Pakwach highway after River Nile burst its banks and the
running water ferried fragments and blocked the highway.
Last evening, Uganda National Roads Authority - UNRA temporary closed Karuma Bridge
along Karuma and Pakwach highway citing floods and to allow their team of
Engineers in Gulu and Arua to clear the road for immediate use.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson says at least
4,000 passengers were left stranded at the road intersection before and after
Pakwach Bridge after floodwaters cut them off.
Okema says that two vehicles including that of some tourists have been
submerged in the floodwaters after they attempted to manoeuvre their way out of
the thick running water.
Simon Peter Anyanzo, the Operations Manager of the Uganda Red Cross Society
(URCS) in West Nile explained that the floods have been caused by high volumes
of water levels from tributaries like River Kafu that feed into the River Nile
following torrential rains in the country.
Martin Owor, the Commissioner Disaster Management in the Office of the Prime
Minister disclosed that OPM and Police teams have been dispatched to join
District Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs) of the affected districts to
try to manage the crisis.
“Once again people are advised not to walk, ride or drive across any flooded
road section or bridge and to keep away from Riverbanks and steep slopes,”
Owor advised in a disaster report issued on Tuesday.
Journalist
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
