ALEBTONG, Uganda — Isaac Odongo of Aduu village, Amuria parish in Aloi sub-county, was awakened on Monday night by the terrified cries of his children. Rushing from his home, he discovered water gushing into every corner, forcing him to flee. To his horror, he found his young children clinging to a mango tree as their home collapsed under the floodwaters. Neighbors quickly came to their aid, rescuing the five children. The family of seven is now sheltering at a neighbor’s home, which is itself at risk of flooding.
Susan Akullo, a mother of five experiencing such devastation for the first time, is now relying on community goodwill to feed her family. “The only 200,000 shillings we had saved from selling a goat was also swept away,” she lamented.
Akullo’s household is among more than 700 families in Alebtong District affected by heavy rains and the rising waters of River Moroto. Over the weekend, local streams surged, sweeping away gardens and infrastructure. Adwir sub-county has been hardest hit, with the sub-county headquarters, Health Centre III, and Adwir Primary School fully submerged.
Across Aloi and Omoro sub-counties, homes have been inundated, crops destroyed, and livestock killed. In Aloi alone, three of the four parishes have reported severe flooding, with over 85 homes completely destroyed and many others partially submerged.
Mangoleta Akao of Onir village narrowly survived Monday’s flash floods, which swept away her home, household items, and crops. Now sheltering at the local council chairperson’s residence, she has no access to food. This is the second time flooding has destroyed her home; last year, her property was similarly swept away. “I appeal to well-wishers to help us relocate to higher ground,” she said.
Martin Odur, LCI chairperson of Onir village, is housing displaced families but says food remains the greatest challenge. Eunice Alwedo, Community Development Officer for Aloi sub-county, described the scale of the disaster as overwhelming, emphasizing that the sub-county is relying on district-level assistance.
On Wednesday, the Alebtong District Disaster Preparedness Committee visited Adwir to assess the situation. Chief Administrative Officer Franco Olaboro described conditions as “dire.” He warned that the disaster committee’s limited budget cannot meet the current needs and called on the central government and well-wishers to provide urgent support. “We have guided residents on relocation and safe water use, but substantial funding is needed for proper mitigation measures,” he said.
While Alebtong has experienced occasional flooding, the scale of this year’s disaster is unprecedented, particularly in Adwir and Aloi, areas along the River Moroto that are prone to seasonal waterlogging. Residents now face the urgent task of recovery and rebuilding in the wake of the devastating floods.