At least four people, including two children, drowned in Mohina River in Kideopo Valley and River Kineti in Eastern Equatoria State last week following torrential rains.
An SSPDF radio operator, Second Lieutenant William Ohide, Lt. James Obura, and two 5-year-old children were identified as the deceased. Authorities said Obura’s was recovered and that civil defense forces were still searching for the rest of the bodies and cautioned people against crossing rivers during heavy rains.
Paul Ibwai, the sub-chief of Madwany Boma confirmed the drowning and said the torrential rains and resultant flash floods destroyed many gardens in both Chorokol and Mohina villages of Kideopo Valley Payam.
“There was a heavy rain here and 2 children died in the River Mohina and all the maize along the river the bank in Chorokol was destroyed. This rain caused heavy destruction,” he said. “The government should come in because these people need to be assisted.”
The Kidepo Valley executive director, Tito Abas Lomoro Ohide, said the destruction of crops by the heavy downpour will create food insecurity in the payam.
“Heavy rain came and washed away crops, there were dura in Chorokol and the maize which was almost getting ready and killed two boys aged 5 and 6 drowned in the river,” he said. “The flash flood came from the mountain from the side called Ipida with great force and washed away a big number of hectares of people’s groundnuts.”
Captain Stephen Tete, the director for civil defense in Eastern Equatoria State confirmed that two SSPDF officers drowned in River Kineti in Torit last week.
“These days there is heavy rain and Kineti is full to an extent it exceeds the bridge and two soldiers drowned there. William Ohide, an SSPDF radio operator in Serikat, drowned and we managed to recover his body after 4 days,” he said. “The other one who also drowned is Lieutenant James Bura, 28, working with wounded heroes and a resident of Hai Mairo.”
Tete said forces have been deployed along River Kineti to monitor the people using and crossing the river. He cautioned people against unnecessarily crossing or playing in River Kineti and urged parents to monitor their children when crossing the bridge.
“We have soldiers deployed along River Kineti to monitor. When one is drunk, they should not cross because when the river is full, a person who is drunk can drown,” he said. “The government should do something because this bridge is now lower than the river and it is not safe.”