The Member of Parliament for Labwor County in Abim District, Jimbricky Noman Ochero, has narrowly escaped drowning after attempting to cross a flooded road leading to his constituency.
A video circulating widely on local WhatsApp groups shows the legislator wading through deep, fast-moving water, holding a stick for balance while being supported by a young man.
The incident has stirred outrage among residents, who say it reflects the worsening state of roads in the district during the ongoing rainy season.
Wilson Ochen, a resident of Alerek Sub-county, criticised district leaders for failing to raise the matter in Parliament.
“Our leaders have ignored this issue for too long. Now that one of them has almost drowned, they should understand the suffering ordinary people go through daily,” he said.
In recent months, flooding has rendered most roads in Abim impassable, turning several sections into death traps for motorists and pedestrians.
Areas such as Alito Bridge have become particularly dangerous, with previous incidents of people drowning while attempting to cross into Abim District.
During his campaign rally in Abim on October 24, 2025, President Museveni also criticised the Ministry of Works and Transport for neglecting roads in the district.
He said tarmacking would begin soon in a phased programme starting from Lira, Pader, and Soroti, and urged the ministry to ensure roads are properly graded with adequate water channels to prevent flooding.
The incident involving MP Ochero has reignited public debate on infrastructure neglect in the Karamoja sub-region, with residents calling for urgent government intervention to prevent further tragedies and improve road access before the rains intensify.