The Amuru District Disaster Management Committee (DMC) has said it needs a total of Shs 16 billion to mitigate against the possible impact of flooding in the Elegu Town Council.
Elegu is a business gateway to South Sudan and boasts over 10,000 businesses that bring in billions in cash revenue for the businesses and in taxes to government. The area has experienced torrential floods at least four times in the last three years, leaving many properties in ruins.
Elegu normally floods when River Unyama, with its numerous tributaries, bursts its banks.
The DMC conducted an assessment in July this year, and established that at least Shs 16 bln is needed to create temporary mechanisms to avert the floods and stem their impact on businesses and the resident population.
That followed heavy rains seen in the district and the wider Acholi sub-region in recent times.
Michael Lakony, the District LC V Chairman — also a member of the DMC – said the money will be spent on the creation of two lagoons to absorb over-flowing water, opening of diversion channels for the river when it bursts its banks, and other within the town to facilitate general drainage.
“Floods in Elegu normally occur around August when there are heavy rains and as a district we have no funds to address this,” said Lakony.
“The government has always promised to construct diversions and other infrastructural developments so that Elegu is safe from floods but in vain,” he added.
Lakony told the Cooperator in an interview that a wider plan to establish irrigation systems to absorb excess water before it causes mayhem would need Shs 160 bln
Already, the government — with funding from the Islamic Development Bank – has plans for a Shs 78 bln irrigation scheme to be established in Pawel, along the riverbanks of Unyama in Atiak sub-county.
Recently, parliament approved an additional Shs 108 billion funding to Atiak Sugar for mechanization, part of which money would be used to build an irrigation system for their cane plantations.
Amuru Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Stephen Odong-Latek, who also chairs the DMC, said they have already submitted a detailed plan to the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Works and Environment, and area Members of Parliament.
He said for now they are focusing on alerting the residents and business community in Elegu to be ready for flooding given the heavy rains now falling.
“There’s nothing we can do to prevent the flooding. We simply have to ensure that we inform those who live along the riverbanks warn us early so people can be evacuated,” Latek said.
In 2017 traders lost merchandise worth over Shs 2 bln. Two years later, floods hit the border town again causing losses of over Shs 1.7 billion. Several traders and businesses were forced to close after these two disasters.
Kilak North MP Anthony Akol confirmed receipt of the DMC assessment and said area legislators were studying it to see how it can be promoted within government for a quick implementation.
Akol also said they would press government to compensate all those traders who have lost property and goods in those two disastrous floods.
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