Heavy Rains Paralyze Businesses and Transport in Otuke District

Heavy Rains Paralyze Businesses and Transport in Otuke District

By HARON OKWIR 

Otuke, Uganda: Following recent heavy rainfall, transportation within Otuke District has been severely disrupted, with over 10 major roads rendered impassable. The flooding has hampered movement of people and goods, impacting local businesses and daily life.

In an exclusive interview at his office, Principal Assistant Secretary(PAS) Mr. Patrick Onyek explained that the road conditions have led to a sharp decline in business activities. "Most of these roads connect residents to Otuke Town Council and serve as vital routes for traders coming from Lira. Due to the poor state of the roads, business transactions have slowed down considerably," he said.

Onyek further added that the district's engineers have reported extensive damage to key infrastructure. "The roads and bridges that link various parts of Otuke are in a state of disrepair. This includes routes such as Okera swamp, Ogwete Dam Kede, Akorokodoi swamp in Ogwete Sub-County, Okociwa Culverts in Orum Sub-County, as well as Okune swamp and Ocee swamp in Ogor Sub-County. Additionally, roads like Ogwa swamp, Olech swamp, Oget swamp, Agweng swamp, Obul swamp, Obir swamp, Otlut swamp, Ojukogang swamp, and others are all severely affected. We have a budget of UGX 815 million allocated for repairs."

He emphasized that over 500 kilometers of roads, including the route from Ogor Sub-County to Otuke Town Council, Okwang to Adwari, and central government roads connecting Lira, Aloi, Otuke, Abim, and Kotido, are heavily damaged. These issues have compounded the district's transportation challenges, further stalling economic activities.

Meanwhile, Lomongin Joseph, the Chief Administrative Officer of Otuke, highlighted that the problem extends beyond the district. "This is a national issue. The most affected is the road managed by the central government, which runs from Lira through Aloi, Otuke, Abim, and Kotido," he explained. Lomongin added that the heavy trucks and buses frequently using these routes have contributed to the deterioration of the roads.

The ongoing road conditions have also had a negative impact on local revenue collection. "With markets being largely inactive due to impassable roads, the district is experiencing a decline in revenue generated from business activities," Lomongin noted.

In conclusion, district officials and the District Disaster Management Committee are actively working to address the crisis. They are collecting data on affected households at the sub-county level to present to the Office of the Prime Minister. "We are aware of the national situation and are doing our best to coordinate efforts for recovery," Lomongin affirmed.

Additional efforts are underway to prioritize repairs and seek emergency funding to restore transportation routes, which are vital for the district’s economic stability and residents’ well-being.