The Atebi Bridge in Owiny-Kibul Payam of Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State has collapsed, leaving the local residents stranded.
Local authorities said the bridge collapsed on Monday following three days of heavy rainfall.
They said the local residents could no longer access most of their farms and the children could not go to school.
Owiny-Kibul also links Eastern Equatoria State to Lawmo District in northern Uganda.
Chief Joseph Oyet told Radio Tamazuj that the collapse of the bridge had also impeded the movement of soldiers.
“Our soldiers have been cut off, children cannot get to school and most people cannot access their farms or reach hospitals,” he said.
Oyet urged the government and humanitarian agencies to intervene in rehabilitating the bridge.
This bridge has been having issues since 2022 when the river started washing away farms and properties on its shores, limiting activities in the area. We have been appealing to the government and NGOs to rehabilitate it, he said.
County Commissioner Pole Pole Benjamin Olum confirmed the incident, saying it had hindered learning and farming in the area
Olum said most government institutions had ceased operations since majority of the officials lived across the bridge and could no longer get to work.
Radio Tamazuj made several phone calls to the Eastern Equatoria State Minister for Roads and Bridges, Jildo Abala, but he declined to give a comment.