Farmers in Wuluturu Count Losses Over Impassable Stream

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Residents of Wuluturu have appealed to the government to urgently repair a collapsed bridge that connects their community with Yei town, saying the broken link continues to endanger lives and hinder access to essential services.

The Wuluturu stream is located about one kilometre south of Yei town. It has long been a source of hardship for local people. A community built bridge that once helped residents cross was destroyed by heavy rains more than ten years ago and has never been replaced. Since then, movement across the stream has remained extremely difficult, especially during the rainy season.

Local resident Ade Moses explained that people often wait for hours whenever the stream floods.

“When it rains, we sometimes wait two hours before the water subsides. At times, you are forced to spend the night in town or remain stuck at home because the stream is too dangerous to cross.”

Mothers and schoolchildren are among the most affected. Mary Tumalu, a mother of three, said the absence of a bridge has created risks for children and the elderly.

“Crossing is very difficult, especially when going to school or the hospital. Over the years, women and children have fallen into the water and lost their lives. We really need this bridge fixed.”

Farmers in Wuluturu also say they face enormous challenges in transporting produce to Yei’s markets. Guya Timon, a farmer, said the constant rains that support agriculture have become a burden when there is no bridge.

“Vegetables and grains cannot be transported with bicycles or motorcycles once the stream fills up. We are appealing to the government and aid organisations to help us.”

The danger goes beyond livelihoods. According to another resident, Alakai Edward, emergencies often turn fatal due to lack of access.

“If someone falls sick at night or if there is insecurity, there is no ambulance or security vehicle that can reach us. People just die because of this gap.”

The appeal comes at a time when the government, with support from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has begun rehabilitating some roads in Yei town. Residents and local leaders now want this initiative extended to Wuluturu and other residential areas with poor road networks.

Lugala Richard Godo, Director of Physical Infrastructure in Yei River County, admitted that his office lacks the equipment and resources to address all damaged roads and bridges. He said community concerns are well known but explained that the department faces major financial challenges that make it difficult to respond promptly.

Residents insist that repairing the Wuluturu bridge is a matter of life and death, and are calling on the government, development partners and private companies to come together and provide lasting solutions.

Impact of the Broken Wuluturu Bridge