Nile Blocked At Pakwach
Jan 07, 2003
MASSIVE papyrus sudd floating from Lake Albert have blocked the River Nile at the Pakwach bridge, raising fears of flooding.
By Felix Osike and Ayiga Ondoga
MASSIVE papyrus sudd floating from Lake Albert have blocked the River Nile at the Pakwach bridge, raising fears of flooding.
Works, transport and communications minister John Nasasira yesterday said Egyptian and Ugandan engineers who had been clearing Lake Kyoga of the sudd had rushed to the scene, the main gateway to the West Nile region.
He said the clearing exercise was necessary to avoid flooding and damage to the bridge and its surroundings.
Nasasira said from Friday, the Wanseko-Panyimur ferry would be diverted to carry excavators to the scene.
Passengers on the route are advised to use the Masindi-Paraa route or revert to the old transport means of small boats to cross to West Nile.
“We have to move very fast and clear it. It is expected that de-sudding will take one to two weeks. During this period, there will be no ferry services at the Wanseko-Panyimur crossing,†Nasasira said in a statement.
The water flow towards the Sudan has also been greatly affected by the floating island (sudd), estimated to be covering a 100-metre distance.
Nasasira appealed to the people of West Nile to be patient during the exercise which he said was necessary to avoid the West Nile region from being cut off.
“The situation is very serious. The sudd have swept several canoes and fishing nets of our people thus affecting the living standard of the people,†Pakwach Town Council mayor Hophny Topacho Ongiertho said.
He said the sudd caused flooding on the southern part of the river, while the northern section was drained resulting into a serious water problem along the banks.
Several people living along the river-bank from Pakwach town to Wadelai, about 17 miles, have been displaced. The town council is also affected.
Topacho blamed the works ministry for failing to maintain and renovate the longest bridge in the country, which was constructed with the assistance of the East African Community in 1969. The bridge’s main pillars are cracked.
But Nasasira said the contractor working on the Nebbi-Pakwach Road would handle the repairs.
There are now fears that the marauding Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels could use the compact sudd to cross into Nebbi district and avoid the bridge which is guarded by the UPDF.
Ends
MASSIVE papyrus sudd floating from Lake Albert have blocked the River Nile at the Pakwach bridge, raising fears of flooding.
Works, transport and communications minister John Nasasira yesterday said Egyptian and Ugandan engineers who had been clearing Lake Kyoga of the sudd had rushed to the scene, the main gateway to the West Nile region.
He said the clearing exercise was necessary to avoid flooding and damage to the bridge and its surroundings.
Nasasira said from Friday, the Wanseko-Panyimur ferry would be diverted to carry excavators to the scene.
Passengers on the route are advised to use the Masindi-Paraa route or revert to the old transport means of small boats to cross to West Nile.
“We have to move very fast and clear it. It is expected that de-sudding will take one to two weeks. During this period, there will be no ferry services at the Wanseko-Panyimur crossing,†Nasasira said in a statement.
The water flow towards the Sudan has also been greatly affected by the floating island (sudd), estimated to be covering a 100-metre distance.
Nasasira appealed to the people of West Nile to be patient during the exercise which he said was necessary to avoid the West Nile region from being cut off.
“The situation is very serious. The sudd have swept several canoes and fishing nets of our people thus affecting the living standard of the people,†Pakwach Town Council mayor Hophny Topacho Ongiertho said.
He said the sudd caused flooding on the southern part of the river, while the northern section was drained resulting into a serious water problem along the banks.
Several people living along the river-bank from Pakwach town to Wadelai, about 17 miles, have been displaced. The town council is also affected.
Topacho blamed the works ministry for failing to maintain and renovate the longest bridge in the country, which was constructed with the assistance of the East African Community in 1969. The bridge’s main pillars are cracked.
But Nasasira said the contractor working on the Nebbi-Pakwach Road would handle the repairs.
There are now fears that the marauding Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels could use the compact sudd to cross into Nebbi district and avoid the bridge which is guarded by the UPDF.
Ends