The authority said in a press statement issued on Monday, that the rising water level has submerged the landing points for ferries on both sides of the falls making it hard for vehicles to cross.
Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA has temporarily
suspended tourist boat trips to some parts of Murchison Falls National Park in
Nwoya and Masindi Districts after River Nile burst its banks.
The authority said in a press statement issued on Monday, that the rising water level has
submerged the landing points for ferries on both sides of the falls making it
hard for vehicles to cross.
“There will be no boat trips to the bottom of
the falls due to the high flow of water on River Nile, which can destabilize
the boats and cause serious problems,” reads part of the statement. The statement added that "as we wait for the water to
recede, visitors intending to stay north of the river are advised to access
the park through Tangi or Wankwar gates.”
According to the Authority, visitors who intend
to stay south of the river should access the Park through Kicumbanyobo, Bugungu
and Mbako gates.
The UWA Spokesperson, Bashir Hangi told URN
in a phone interview that the Park has opened to tourists
following the easing of the lockdown but the rising water level has interfered
with cross movements.
//Cue in; “Because we opened…..
Cue out….our water bodies.”//
In December last year, hundreds of passengers were left
stranded for days after River Nile burst its banks causing flooding at Pakwach
bridge in Nwoya, the main gateway to West Nile districts, part of South Sudan
and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
