Recent heavy rains have caused significant damage to roads and bridges in Serere district, making transportation difficult for the local population. Many residents now have to use boats to travel between areas, severely disrupting their daily activities.
On Thursday, Serere district officially began the construction of the Kamod-Atirir road, a critical corner clerk road in Bugondo sub-county. This road stretches 11 kilometers and will cost the district Sh200 million. The new road will benefit four parishes that have struggled with submerged roads due to flooding.
State Minister for Fisheries Hellen Adoa, who is also the Serere district woman MP, launched the road construction. She emphasized the urgency of the project given the severe flooding that has affected the region. A man on a motorcycle crossing the flooded road at Atiira sub-county highlighted the current challenges faced by residents.
District engineer Simon Peter Emesu explained the dire situation, noting that many roads in the sub-counties near Lake Kyoga have been submerged. The funds for the road repairs are part of the Sh1 billion allocated by the President for each district in the country. However, Emesu mentioned that the allocated funds are not sufficient for the extensive damage in Serere.
Minister Adoa echoed this sentiment, stating that Sh1 billion is insufficient for Serere district. She suggested that an allocation of Sh3 billion would make all roads motorable and prevent future flooding issues. The state of roads in the Teso sub-region is indeed alarming, with over 15 bridges in Kapelebyong district washed away. Other severely affected districts include Katakwi and Bukedea, where floods have forced some residents to leave their homes.
The road construction project in Serere is a crucial step towards restoring normalcy for the affected communities. By improving the infrastructure, the district aims to ensure better connectivity and reduce the impact of future floods. This initiative highlights the ongoing efforts to address the challenges posed by severe weather conditions in the region.
