By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Residents of Owinykibul Payam in Magwi County, Eastern Equatorial State, are stranded following destruction of Atepi Bridge, which links South Sudan and Uganda.
The bridge was washed away by heavy rains that began on Friday evening and continued throughout the weekend.
The downpour also damaged farmlands, houses, and the Amee Bridge, which was previously destroyed in 2021.
The Atepi Bridge is a vital connection for traders and farmers from Magwi County and Palabek Town Council in Northern Uganda.
Jakery Adong Scovia Johnson, an activist and director at the Voice of South Sudan, said the heavy rains had disrupted the livelihoods of residents.
“Residents from South Sudan depend on this bridge for traders from Uganda to bring their produce. This is a terrifying situation. This is not the first time we have faced such challenges. Our leaders are doing nothing about it,” she said.
Scovia Johnson added that Magwi County is prone to flooding due to seasonal rainfall.
She attributed the frequent bridge failures to the poor quality of construction, which cannot withstand heavy rainfall.
“Our leaders are not doing enough,” she stated.
“They have lost their oversight role and need to come out and help the helpless people. Atepi is one of the major bridges that connect farmers and business people to and from Uganda. We have South Sudanese refugees in Palabek settlement who want to return home but cannot without roads and bridges.”
The latest weather forecast by the IGAp Climate Application and Prediction Centre (ICPAC) showed that parts of Eastern and Central Equatoria States will continue to receive heavy rainfall for the next three months.