Floods cut Apac–Teboke road ahead of the Lango Chief’s burial

20 November 2025, 11:35 am

By, Daniel Odongo & Mike Okwang Ogule

Transport along the Apac–Chegere-Teboke–Oyam road has been severely disrupted after heavy flooding submerged nearly one kilometer of the section passing through Arocha Swamp. The incident comes at a crucial moment as the Lango community prepares for the burial of the Paramount Chief, Won Nyaci Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii, scheduled for 22 November 2025 in Teboke, Apac district.

The submerged road is the only route from Apac Town that directly leads to the home of the late Lango Paramount Chief in Teboke Sub-county, Apac District, heightening concerns as burial preparations intensify.

The ongoing rainy season has triggered unusually heavy downpours, causing water levels to rise above several bridges along the route. The worst-hit point is located just a few metres from Apac Town Centre, where floodwaters have completely overtaken the road, leaving it impassable.

Residents say the flooding has cut them off from essential services such as hospitals, markets, police posts, and schools. They are appealing to government leaders for immediate intervention.

Joan Agec Peter, a resident of Atik Cell, urged authorities to rehabilitate the road urgently, noting that Apac’s municipal status should reflect better infrastructure.

Another resident, Daniel Okori from Alerwang in Atik Division, said the situation has forced many people to remain indoors. “Food, business, and even security have been affected,” he said.

Primary school learners who rely on the road have also been affected, with some telling their parents that they can no longer cross the flooded sections safely. Reports indicate that floodwaters are nearing key community facilities including grinding mills and boreholes with some already submerged.

When contacted, Hon. Lemba Nelson Okello, Chairperson of the Apac District Roads Committee and Member of Parliament for Maruzi North county, acknowledged the challenges residents are facing. He cited accidents, property loss, and widespread damage as some of the impacts of the floods.

Okello attributed the poor state of several central government roads to the abrupt transfer of road management authority from UNRA to the Ministry of Works, a shift he said occurred without adequate planning. The transition, he noted, created gaps in staffing, funding, and maintenance capacity.

He confirmed that relevant stakeholders had been notified and had promised to repair the affected road ahead of the Paramount Chief’s burial. “Visitors from across and beyond the region are expected, so movement must be restored,” he emphasized.

Okello appealed for calm among residents, assuring them that he would follow up with the Ministry of Works for urgent intervention. He also called on district leaders, including the District Chairperson, to remain proactive in demanding immediate repairs, reiterating that the policy shift from UNRA to the Ministry of Works has contributed to widespread road deterioration.