Heavy rains destroy Bududa bridges
Apr 27, 2010
HEAVY rains have destroyed four bridges connecting Manafwa and Bududa districts. The bridges as Lukale, Lwagogo, Bubwaya and Bumulekwa and they connect Kato sub-county in Manafwa to Bukigai sub-county in Bududa.
By Paul Watala
HEAVY rains have destroyed four bridges connecting Manafwa and Bududa districts.
The former LCI chairperson of Bugimanaye cell, Davis Nangoli, named the bridges as Lukale, Lwagogo, Bubwaya and Bumulekwa. They connect Kato sub-county in Manafwa to Bukigai sub-county in Bududa.
“Some of the bridges were destroyed during the landslides in Bududa, but they have never been repaired. We appealed for help from the Manafwa district authorities, but they said they did not have funds to repair bridges,†Nangoli explained.
He said the collapse of the bridges had barred access to social services like schools, hospitals and markets.
Nangoli added that the alternative route to Bududa is more than four kilometres away.
“The few people who are brave have been using the log which fell across River Manafwa after the rains. Three children recently survived drowning when they attempted to cross using the logs,†Nangoli said.
He also said some buildings were left roofless and several gardens massively destroyed.
Kato was the most affected sub- county. It is located on River Manafwa and most of the homesteads near it flooded.
Emmanuel Wamboka, a resident of Butuwa village, said the rains at times last for over six hours. He appealed to the Government to construct strong bridges.
Ahmad Welikhe, one of the elders, said the nearest health facility is across the river and the bridge had been washed away.
“I have two children in Butuwa Primary School, whom I would force to go and do exams using the long route for fear that they could fall in the running waters,†Welikhe added.
Efforts to reach district officials for a comment failed.
In 2007, severe floods killed about 18 people and cut off 25 districts in the north and eastern Uganda. Around 300,000 people lost their homes or crops. It was Uganda’s heaviest rainfall.
HEAVY rains have destroyed four bridges connecting Manafwa and Bududa districts.
The former LCI chairperson of Bugimanaye cell, Davis Nangoli, named the bridges as Lukale, Lwagogo, Bubwaya and Bumulekwa. They connect Kato sub-county in Manafwa to Bukigai sub-county in Bududa.
“Some of the bridges were destroyed during the landslides in Bududa, but they have never been repaired. We appealed for help from the Manafwa district authorities, but they said they did not have funds to repair bridges,†Nangoli explained.
He said the collapse of the bridges had barred access to social services like schools, hospitals and markets.
Nangoli added that the alternative route to Bududa is more than four kilometres away.
“The few people who are brave have been using the log which fell across River Manafwa after the rains. Three children recently survived drowning when they attempted to cross using the logs,†Nangoli said.
He also said some buildings were left roofless and several gardens massively destroyed.
Kato was the most affected sub- county. It is located on River Manafwa and most of the homesteads near it flooded.
Emmanuel Wamboka, a resident of Butuwa village, said the rains at times last for over six hours. He appealed to the Government to construct strong bridges.
Ahmad Welikhe, one of the elders, said the nearest health facility is across the river and the bridge had been washed away.
“I have two children in Butuwa Primary School, whom I would force to go and do exams using the long route for fear that they could fall in the running waters,†Welikhe added.
Efforts to reach district officials for a comment failed.
In 2007, severe floods killed about 18 people and cut off 25 districts in the north and eastern Uganda. Around 300,000 people lost their homes or crops. It was Uganda’s heaviest rainfall.