Communication between Karuma in Kiryandongo district and Pakwach has been cut off after River Tangi again burst its banks leaving traffic paralysed.
Several trucks and travellers were on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, seen stranded at the Pakwach Bridge after the fresh burst; forcing the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to take to their twitter handle advising motorists to use the newly constructed road through Murchison Falls National Park.
Mr Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe, UNRA’s Media Relations, Public and Corporate Affairs Manager, says efforts are being made to ferry road equipment to the site to ensure the matter is fixed.
Mr Ssempebwa revealed that UNRA is currently designing a permanent solution to stop the reoccurrence of the flooding of Tangi River after its water first overflowed on September 3, 2022, leaving travellers stranded as hundreds were forced to wait for at least two days before the water level reduced.
Mr Paul Eseru, the Pakwach Resident District Commissioner (RDC), attributes the overflowing to the rise of the water volume of the tributaries that empty into River Nile.
“The water has eroded the entire width of the road at the crossing point making it impassable. So far, one truck loaded with goods is stuck into the river in the middle of the road, thus, blocking it completely,” the RDC says.
However, Mr Eseru says he has already written to the UNRA Executive Director, Ms Allen Kagina, notifying her of the urgent need to address the matter at hand.
“This is to bring to your attention that the Pakwach – Nwoya highway has been badly damaged by waters and, therefore, completely cut off. We badly need urgent attention to resolve this impasse. Very many vehicles with goods and people have been trapped on either side of the river,” reads the letter in part.
