BUGISU
At least three people have been confirmed dead and hundreds left stranded after days of heavy rainfall triggered devastating floods across the Bugisu sub-region this week. The floods have destroyed homes, bridges, and crop fields, leaving residents and authorities overwhelmed by the scale of destruction.
In Nabweya Ward, Mbale Northern City Division, tragedy struck on Monday night when River Lumumba burst its banks and flooded the home of 50-year-old Modulo Shadrach. He and his 12-year-old daughter, Vivian Nagudi, were swept away. Shadrach’s body was recovered downstream, but the search for his daughter is still ongoing as rescue teams and residents comb through debris-filled waters.
In Sironko District, one person was killed in Nalugugu Parish, Bukise Sub-county, after flash floods tore through homes. Residents also rescued a driver whose vehicle was carried off the road by raging waters. The floods destroyed smaller bridges, cut off feeder roads, and submerged acres of crop fields in Sironko Town Council and Mutufu, raising fears of looming food shortages.
The situation worsened on Sunday night when the Nalugugu Bridge on the Kapchorwa–Mbale highway was completely washed away. The bridge is a vital transport link connecting the Karamoja, Sebei, and Bugisu sub-regions. Its destruction has caused massive traffic disruptions, leaving hundreds of vehicles, including buses and cargo trucks, stranded on both sides. Currently, only motorcycles and light vehicles are cautiously using a narrow surviving section of the bridge, while heavy trucks remain grounded.
Sironko Deputy Resident District Commissioner Allan Wonambwa said traffic has been diverted through Budari, connecting to Mutufu Road and Sironko Town before proceeding to Mbale. The alternative route adds about 12 kilometers to the journey. Engineers from the Ministry of Works and Transport are already on-site, assessing the damage and drawing up plans for urgent restoration.
In Bududa District, floods cut off the road from Bududa Corner to Bunamubi Trading Center on Tuesday at Tumbu Village in Bukigai Town Council after River Manafwa burst its banks. Similarly, in Mbale District, floods paralyzed transport on the Mbale–Tororo road in Bungokho Sub-county near the police checkpoint on Tuesday evening.
Elgon Region Police spokesperson Rogers Taitika has warned communities in flood-prone areas to remain on high alert as heavy rains persist. He noted that the Elgon sub-region, historically prone to flooding and landslides, faces a heightened risk of further disasters.
Meanwhile, leaders and residents are appealing for immediate repairs and long-term flood control measures, including stronger bridges, proper drainage, and early warning systems, to prevent future tragedies.
