Three bodies recovered after Alito bridge ruined by floods

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The bodies of three people, who were among those swept away by flood waters after Alito bridge got destroyed this week, have been recovered.

The bridge on the Amuria–Abim road, linking the sub-regions of Teso and Karamoja, was ruined by heavy rainfall on Wednesday, stranding hundreds of users of this route.

People crossing the bridge that the floods swept away last week following the ongoing rains. (Courtesy photo)

Despite the danger, some travellers took the risk and attempted to cross over through the flood waters. Some were swept away and feared drowned.

Six people were missing. On Friday afternoon, the bodies of two men and one woman were recovered by local people involved in the search operation.

The victims have since been identified as Kennedy Odongo from Lira district, Isaiah Okorinyang from Kaabong district and Kevin Alupo from Pallisa district.

Robert Ongareno, the LC3 chairperson of Alito sub-county in Kapelebyong district, was at the scene and said that locals were continuing to search for more bodies.

“The discovery of these three bodies has taken locals two days, and we still suspect that more bodies are still there,” he said.

Ongareno said one of the victims, Alupo, had only introduced her husband two weeks ago to her parents in Pallisa. On the fateful day, she had been sent by her husband to Acukudu in Otuke district to check on their land.

A Gateway bus stuck after the water destroying the bridge an issue that has highly affected transport. (Courtesy photo)

“The man collapsed upon seeing locals retrieve the body of his wife. It is a sombre mood here," he told New Vision.

Ongareno is calling for government's intervention, saying the lives of more people are in danger as people struggle to cross to the Otuke side.

On Thursday, Kapelebyong district chairperson Stephen Akorikin visited the scene and promised the people that the works ministry was set to start rebuilding the bridge. However, the efforts are being hampered by the high volumes of floodwater.