Apac flooded roads become death trap claim more than 50 lives in three years

Full report

By Santo Ojok

A 50-year-old Richard Ogwang, a resident of Idaiol Village, Alapata Parish in Bata Sub-county, Dokolo District and his three sons left home on Sunday August 15, 2026 to follow a daughter eloped in Apac District but they ended up drowning and died crossing a flooded road using a canoe.

The tragedy happened at Arocha River in Ibuje Sub-county, Apac District where flash flood from River Nile caused the rise of water level submerging about 2km stretch of Corner Amii-Alworoceng to Aber Road.

The road being managed by the Ministry of Works and Transport is now impassable and is currently being navigated using a canoe putting the lives of the users at a very high risk.

It has also cut off residents of Alworoceng Parish from accessing the services at Ibuje Sub-County headquarters and accessing Apac Municipality.

This is one of many incidences of drowning which occurred along the flooded roads in Apac District.

In 2024, Alfred Acot, 26 year old resident of Ajoodyek Village in Alworoceng Parish died when a canoe he was rowing with 3 passengers capsized in the middle of the water.

Steven Banyole, a resident of Ayum Village in Apoi Sub-county is a survivor of this incident who was rescued by another passenger canoe which following them.

“We were six in this canoe and there were two motorcycles and a bicycle but the canoe is very small and was also leaking too much,” he said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

Information gathered from the local leaders there showed that 38 people have died in this river between 2023-2026 when the water level increased.

The deceased include Issah Omara 32, Jomo Alyanga 29, Nickson Okello 44, Simon Oceng 24, Alfred Odongo 51, Moses Oceng 19, Gerald Orec 21, Micera Agwa 44, Sam Odongo 37, Jasper Odongo 33, Allan Atoke 19, Bosco Opio 43, Robson Opio , Binacio Orec, Jurua Okello, Apala Amos, James Lukol, Patrick Ebong Ogwang, Alfred Acot, James Okuta, Fred Wamani, Denis Okone, Silvesto Orec, Patrick Ojok, Felix Odongo, Fred Cedo, Tonny Atyang, Patrick Owiny, Samwiri Pule, Christopher Olobo, Elvis Ola, Denis Otema, Patrick Ebong, Opio Otit and Bruno Elok all from Apac District, a woman idenfied as Teddy from Kole District died in 2024, Joseph Oloko, Gulu City, Adoti from Arua City and Joe Bum from Palisa District.

This is not the only flooded road in Apac District. In Apoi Sub-county two roads are cut off by the water which flashed outward from Lake Kwania.

Rashid Okello, a resident of Obalia Village in Alworoceng Parish and a regular user of this road said that people are using undersized cameos and unsafe water transport means.

“The biggest problem is that the traffic volume is too high but we don’t have good boats and the safety gears. In case of a strong wind these canoes are very small and light so water can easily enter inside and capsized,” he said.

Daudi Okot, a resident of Adyelowang Village in Alworoceng Parish called upon the government to provide a safer mean of transport along this road.

“We are now in the island, we cannot access the health facilities, and the market for our farm produce. We are appealing to the government to provide for us a good standard boats and the plan f9r the reconstruction of the affected stretch continues,” he said.

Peter Obong Acuda, Maruzi County member of parliament said that he has already presented the matter to the government only waiting for their response.

“Some few days ago I presented the matter on the floor of parliament and the government pledge to take action. I will keep following it up with the Ministry of Works to ensure that a lasting solution is found,” he said.

Eng Vincent Mukasa, the station manager Ministry of Works and Transport in charge of Lango Subregion that government is looking for the lasting solution to this problem.

“The long lasting solution would be to construct box culverts and raise the flooded section though this will not happen soon. However we engaged the Head of the Lango parliamentary caucus and requested him to engage other local leaders and see if it's possible for locals to provide land so that we can open for them another road,” he said.

The situation is similar in Kwania and Dokolo Districts where flash flood from Lake Kwania has cut off several roads and people are using the canoe to cross these roads.