By Alan Clement
The commissioner of Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State has called on the national government and well-wishers to intervene as road connectivity worsened in the area.
With the series of rain, in most areas, roads and bridges got spoiled, making the movement of people and their goods difficult.
In a call for quick intervention, Pole-pole Benjamin Olum, the commissioner of Magwi County, revealed that most roads within got spoiled, hence hindering movement.
Speaking to this outlet, Benjamin revealed that nearly all major roads in and around Magwi are in ruins, posing a direct threat to livelihoods and development.
He pointed out that the road connecting Magwi to Aru Junction via the Captain Cook route is among the most affected.
The commissioner added that the situation of roads connecting the county to other areas continues to worsen.
“The road from Magwi to Ngomoromo, where Uganda has established a checkpoint within South Sudanese territory, is in concerning condition,” the commissioner said.
He appealed to the national and state governments, as well as development partners, to prioritize road rehabilitation in Magwi County.
“Our people are cut off, businesses are struggling, and development is being held back. The situation cannot continue this way,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner called for immediate action to restore connectivity and support economic recovery in the region.
The commissioner cited that the road from Magwi to Ame Junction, stretching 53 kilometers, has been rendered nearly impassable after the collapse of a bridge on the Ame stream due to earlier heavy rains.
Consequently, commuters and vehicles have been forced to cross through the water when the water level recedes, significantly disrupting movement and trade.
The situation is equally dire along the Magwi-Pageri road via Opari, which spans 47 kilometers. A journey that previously took 45 minutes now takes over two hours because of the poor road condition.
The same is also true for the road linking Abara to Owing-Kibul and onward to Limur at the Uganda–South Sudan border. This was made worse by the destruction of the Atepi bridge by floods last year. The bridge has not been repaired to date.
He commended the community of Pajok for taking the initiative to rehabilitate the road, starting from Palotaka to Ngomoromo. Olum stated that the community has already cleared the bush and is now contributing resources within the community to install culverts, carry out murraming, and complete the remaining work.”
Another severely damaged route is from Ayaci Junction in the defunct Ayaci County to Tenten through Palwar and Lobone up to the Awenolwei checkpoint.
According to the Commissioner, the road is completely ruined, making transportation extremely difficult.