Obongi Ferry to start operations after two and half years.

By: Inyakuni Kennedy

Obongi

Obongi: The former member of parliament of Obongi constituency Hon. Fungagroo Kaps Hassan has raised a red flag on the quality of rehabilitation works of obongi ferry landing sites especial at Sinyanya in Adjumani side by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). HE said the current work done by UNRA still exposes the site to floods due to possible floods from Zoka River in which work has not been done sufficiently. “To prevent the flooding at Sinyanya landing site and on the sinyanya, there is need to re-divert the course of the river zoka to its original course so that the water flows along its original channels and enters the river Nile  at ocombenga” , said fungagroo. He adds, “The team of experts from UNRA visited the problem site under the guidance of the local community on ground who real understand the geography of the area and the behaviour of river zoka in the dry and rains but their recommendations have not been implemented by URNA engineers”.

Fungagroo noted that despite having assessment reports on the same subject matter, culverts and drainages have not been installed in where there are supposed to be. He wonders if there is no money for the project or it has been diverted for other things.
For over two years the ferry was grounded after the landing sites on both obongi and sinyanya were submerged by flood which greatly affected business operations in obongi town council.

According to Dr. Bhoka George Didi, the area Member of Parliament obongi constituency learners from Sinyanya village in Ukusijoni sub county Adjumani District who had spent two and half years without attending classes due to absence of the obongi ferry can now cross to obongi to attend classes. “The pupils have been crossing using motorised boots and canoes to attend school which exposed to several risks while crossing the river”. “Putting the ferry its original state of operations will not improve the lives of the learners but also the business community in obongi whose businesses have been down for over two year due to non-functionality of the ferry”, Dr. Bhoka said.
After more than two and half years, the ferry has finally started its operations after the Successful rehabilitation of the landing sites. But According to the information obtained from Uganda national road authority (UNRA), the ferry shall start its official operations on the 1st march 2023.