Residents of Kyanjuki in Kasese are in mourning after a 17-year-old boy identified as Elias Masereka drowned in River Nyamwamba.
The deceased died on Sunday while trying to repair a makeshift bridge that was weakened by flooding on Saturday evening.
Nelson Tumishiime, the Rwenzori East Police Spokesperson says Maseraka was a student at Kilembe secondary school, and that efforts are underway to recover his body.
According to an eyewitness, three boys were repairing the damaged bridge to enable tourists heading to Margherita peak to cross the river. However, strong water waves hit the trio forcing them to slip off the rocks.
The witness says they will improvise ropes to aid tourists to cross the river since they have declined to cancel their trips. Residents want the government to consider working on the infrastructure including bridges destroyed by heavy floods last year.
In some areas, residents are using makeshift bridges to cross between Bulembia and Kyanjuki. Kasese municipality Legislator, Ferigo Kambale, says that they are hopeful that once River Nyamwamba catchment management plan is implemented, the flooding situation will be manageable.
The Ministry of Water and Environment on Friday presented to Kasese district leaders a plan to restore and protect River Nyamwamba. This plan among others involves the planting of bamboo trees on the riverbanks and installing a flood forecasting and early warning system.
The work which is expected to take eight to twelve months is expected to begin this month.
