By Alfred Opio
BUKEDEA — Residents of Kamutur Sub County in Bukedea District are counting heavy losses after water flowing from the Achomai irrigation scheme flooded several parts of the area, destroying crops, affecting trading centers, and leaving many families stranded.
The flooding, which has mainly affected Tajar Parish, has sparked concern among local leaders and residents who are now calling for urgent government intervention to rescue affected communities.
According to residents, water from the irrigation scheme overflowed after key drainage channels were destroyed, causing the water to spread into gardens, roads, and trading centers.
The flooding has disrupted normal activities and threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of residents who depend on farming as their main source of income.
Many farmers woke up to find cassava gardens, maize plantations, and other crops submerged in water, while several roads connecting villages became impassable.
The situation has affected transport services, business operations, and movement of school children and patients seeking medical attention.
Jackson Ojekede, the LC3 Chairperson of Kamutur Sub County, blamed the disaster on the destruction of water control channels that were originally designed to direct and regulate water flowing from the Achomai irrigation scheme.
Speaking during an assessment of the affected areas, Ojekede said human interference with the channels had greatly contributed to the crisis.
“The channels that were designed to guide this water safely were destroyed by some individuals. As a result, the water has spread across the sub county and affected villages, gardens, and trading centers,” Ojekede explained.
He warned that the situation could worsen if urgent action is not taken, especially with continued rainfall being experienced in several parts of the district.
The LC3 chairperson appealed to the government, district authorities, and disaster management agencies to urgently intervene and support affected residents.
“We need immediate government intervention to rescue our people. Farmers have lost crops, roads are damaged, and some homes are surrounded by water. This is becoming a serious disaster,” he said.
Residents in the affected areas expressed fear and frustration, saying the flooding has left many families uncertain about food security and household income.
One farmer from Tajar Parish said the water entered his garden during the night and destroyed nearly all the crops he had planted this season.
“We depend entirely on farming to survive. Now everything has been destroyed. We do not know how we shall feed our families or pay school fees,” the resident lamented.
Another resident said movement within the sub county has become difficult because several roads are covered with water, affecting businesses and transport services.
Community members are now urging authorities to restore the damaged water channels, improve drainage systems, and strengthen monitoring around the irrigation scheme to prevent future flooding.
Some residents also accused certain individuals of tampering with the water channels for personal interests without considering the danger posed to surrounding communities.
Local leaders have further warned that stagnant water could increase the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid if the flooding is not controlled quickly.
The Achomai irrigation scheme was established to support agricultural production and improve livelihoods in the region. However, residents say poor maintenance and destruction of water control infrastructure have now turned the project into a source of suffering for many families in Kamutur Sub County.
District authorities have since started assessing the extent of the damage as residents continue appealing for urgent support from both local and central government.
