Moses Onencan, a boda boda cyclist who traverses the road on a daily basis told URN that apart from health hazards, the dust has equally caused several minor and serious road accidents among the road users.
Road users are worried by the heavy waves of sand and dust
storms that have engulfed the Attiak-Laropi road for the past two months.
The users, especially motorists say that the dust has become
unbearable as they can barely see objects or other machines on transit on the
road during both day and night times.
The dust storms move at high speed and are
characterized by warmth forcing boda boda cyclists and motorists to reduce
speed while maintaining their headlights on throughout the day as early as 7:00
a.m in order to be seen by someone ahead of you.
Nearby homes, schools, offices and health facilities along
the 66 kilometer road connecting the urban centres of Attiak in Amuru district
and Adjumani in Adjumani district also have considerable amounts of dust on the walls, tables,
floors with majority of its occupants covering their nose and mouths with
handkerchiefs so as to escape catching cold and flu.
Moses Onencan, a boda boda cyclist who traverses the road on
a daily basis told URN that apart from health hazards, the dust has equally
caused several minor and serious road accidents among the road users.
Onencan disclosed that one of their members named as Opiyo was on Saturday killed in a hit and run accident along the road,
something he attributes to the too much sand dust which had affected his sight.
Moses Watum, another road user says that he veered off the
road last week after wind blew sand dunes from the road into his eyes leaving
them filled with dust while a speeding vehicle tried to overtake him.
He noted that a number of minor accidents are registered
daily on the road and most victims are boda boda cyclists.
Watum appealed to Strabag Construction Company contracted to
repair the road to always water it to reduce the volumes of the dust.
Simon Dragga, a resident of Adjumani Town Council says that
he suffered severe flu and cough last week after travelling through the road
from Attiak Town Council to Adjumani district.
The 66 kilometers Attiak-Laropi road is currently being
upgraded to an asphalt road by Strabag Construction Company Limited and it has
kick started with surface dressing.
Northern Uganda is currently experiencing intense sunshine which is accompanied by dry wind and heavy storms throughout the day and night.
Emmy Daniel Ojara
Freelancer