By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo: News of individuals falling and drowning at the Nyagak Paa Bruno footbridge is all too familiar to the residents of Zombo district in the West Nile region. The footbridge, a crucial link for local communities, has been the site of multiple tragic incidents over the years.

Spanning approximately 20 meters, the makeshift footbridge connects Atyak and Paidha in Zombo district with Nebbi Sub County in Nebbi district. Constructed from three wooden logs by residents, it serves as the only access route to essential services such as medical clinics and markets for the rural farming communities.

Despite its vital role, the footbridge’s condition has been deplorable for decades, posing significant risks to those who use it. Over 2000 people living in the village of Yil, Anyola Parish, Atyak Sub County, lack basic healthcare, roads, schools, and markets, making the footbridge their only link to these essential services.

On May 4, 2024, a four-year-old girl drowned after falling from the footbridge while crossing with her 12-year-old brother to Paidha Sub County.

Although the brother was rescued by nearby residents, the girl’s body was found two days later. This tragic incident adds to the long list of fatalities at Nyagak Paa Bruno footbridge. In November 2022, two women also drowned after falling into the river at the same spot.

Nuru Wathum, the chairperson of Yil Community, recounted the numerous incidents, stating that since 2007, more than 20 people have perished on the footbridge, which the locals now call a “death trap.”

“It’s so sad that we are losing many people just like that. I have stayed in this village for nearly 30 years and more than 20 people have fallen and died on that footbridge since 2007. The lucky ones survived,” Wathum said with deep remorse.

Despite several appeals to leaders for assistance, the community has largely been left to fend for themselves. The villagers have attempted to mobilize resources to fix the bridge but face challenges in transporting logs acquired for the repair from Paidha town council, located over 30 kilometres away.

Phillip Okwonga Jawiambe, the LCI chairperson of Yil village, confirmed that all 20 fatalities since 2007 were residents of the village or individuals involved in farming in the area. He criticized the local leaders for neglecting the community, despite canvassing for votes during election periods.

“They blame us and want to evict us, but they come for campaigns during election periods. A polling station was created here in 2006 and we have been voting since,” Okwonga said.

The footbridge is located in Omyer forest reserve, and while authorities have attempted to evict residents, the community has resisted due to the lack of a strategic relocation plan. In a related incident last year, hundreds of villagers stormed Paidha central police station in protest against eviction attempts by National Forestry Authority officials, which was later resolved amicably.

Both pedestrians and motorcyclists use the footbridge, risking their lives to transport farm produce and access farming activities. The Zombo district is characterized by fast-flowing rivers such as Nyagak and Ora, with the former claiming more lives due to the state of its makeshift footbridges.

Last year, using locally mobilized resources, the community constructed a major footbridge on Nyagak River connecting Nyapea Sub County and Paidha town council. This new footbridge also links to the West Nile electricity power source at Ngia village.

However, the Ministry of Works and Transport has restricted local governments from constructing bridges using timber and wood, advocating instead for concrete and steel structures. Local leaders argue that such construction is expensive and that they lack sufficient funds to meet these standards.

During the commissioning of the new Nyagak footbridge last May, James Oruna Oyullu, the LCV chairperson of Zombo, highlighted the district’s challenges. “As the district, we have been restricted from constructing major bridges by the Ministry of Works and Transport, and also we have insufficient funds,” Oyullu said.

The community continues to rely on their efforts and resources to address the urgent need for safe and reliable infrastructure, hoping for greater support and action from government authorities.