Flooding Near Nimule Border Triggers Cholera Outbreak

(AMURU DISTRICT) – Heavy flooding in Elegu Town Council, a key border town between Uganda and South Sudan, has displaced more than 2,000 people and triggered a cholera outbreak. The floods which hit last week submerged homes, businesses and sanitation facilities leaving residents and traders stranded in high ground areas and worsening the already fragile hygiene situation.

Located at the northern tip of Uganda along the Gulu-Nimule Highway and bordering South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State, Elegu is a major commercial hub for cross border trade between the two countries. The area regularly experiences flooding when the Unyama River, which originates in Omoro District and passes through Pader and Amuru, overflows as it makes its way to the Blue Nile through Nimule. However, last week’s flooding was sudden and severe, arriving without the usual signs, according to residents.

Ms Margaret Auma, Chairperson of the Elegu Women Cross-Border Traders Cooperative Society, said the floodwaters arrived at 2:00am and continued flowing throughout the day. She said businesses were caught off guard and unable to relocate their goods in time.

“There is no business because the area is flooded,” Ms Auma said on Wednesday evening. “Normally, we can hear the sound of the river before it floods, but this time there were no warnings.”

Local authorities confirmed that over 2,000 people have been displaced, with many now sheltering along the Gulu-Nimule road or in buildings with upper floors. Mr Mathias Kisembo, the Town Clerk of Elegu, said the District Disaster Committee had been notified for emergency intervention.

Among the affected facilities are the Elegu Border Market and the Elegu Police Station, both of which were submerged. Mr Kassim Kule, a community leader from Lorikwor West, raised alarm about the sanitation crisis, stating that most toilets were flooded and that faecal waste had spread across the area.

“Hygiene and sanitation are the biggest problems. Some toilets have been submerged, while others have overflowed. This is very serious because we are still battling cholera,” he said.

Health officials in Amuru reported that at least five people have died from cholera, and over 200 cases have been recorded since the outbreak began in July. Most of the affected individuals are being treated at Bibia Health Centre, which is the closest facility to the Elegu border.

Efforts to address long standing flooding in the area had already been planned before the most recent disaster. On 28 May 2025, Ms Anna Nambooze, Country Director of TradeMark Africa (TMA) for Uganda and South Sudan, announced the start of a $11.1 million (approx. SSP 51.06 billion) project to construct a climate smart cross border traders market in Elegu. She said the project, co-funded by TMA, the Danish Embassy in Uganda, and the European Union Delegation in Uganda, would help mitigate future flooding.

According to Ms Nambooze, around $3 million (approx. SSP 13.8 billion) of the total budget will be used specifically for flood mitigation across the 12 acre project site. Planned works include water channelling and structural safeguards to protect the facility from climate-related risks for up to 100 years. The new market is expected to host about 1,200 traders and will include bulk storage for grains and vegetables, along with specialised facilities for perishable goods.