The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has provided an update on the expected duration for emergency repairs on the River Katonga Bridge along the Kampala-Masaka highway.
UNRA spokesperson, Allan Ssempebwa, has confirmed that engineers anticipate a minimum of three weeks to complete the necessary repairs once water levels in the area recede.
“We estimate that it will take approximately three weeks to carry out the necessary emergency repairs on Katonga Bridge,” he informed our reporter.
The collapse of Katonga Bridge occurred during destructive flash floods in the region, resulting in debris that severely impacted transportation.
The closure of this vital route has disrupted travel to the southwestern part of the country and neighbouring borders, including Tanzania, DR Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
As an alternative, the government has advised motorists to use the Mpigi-Gomba-Ssembabule route.
However, the closure of the bridge has led to increased fares on the alternative route, causing delays and affecting the transportation of goods.
It has also negatively impacted traders who relied on serving travellers along the affected route, such as roadside vendors and small-scale business operators.
To address the transportation challenges, the Ministry of Works and Transport has extended the operational jurisdiction of Nation Oil Distributors Limited, known for managing vessels like MV Kalangala and MV NODL for transportation between Entebbe and Kalangala.
They will now provide emergency water transport services directly between Entebbe and Masaka during this period.
Hajji Sadala Musoke, the Managing Director of Nation Oil Distributors, confirmed the deployment of MV NODL, a vessel capable of carrying approximately 150 passengers and light cargo.
“It will depart from Nakiwogo to Bukakata and return later in the day. However, we anticipate that if traffic increases, we can collaborate with the users of the landing site at Bukakata to develop a schedule that allows MV Nodl to service additional routes,” he explained.
The government will subsidize transportation costs, allowing travellers to pay a reduced fare of 15,000 Shillings.
While the water route provides an alternative for passenger transport, some individuals express concerns about the limitations of MV NODL, as it does not accommodate vehicles.
Businesswoman Alice Nakamate, a frequent traveller on the Masaka-Kampala route, questions the effectiveness of the water route and highlights the delays and inability to transport vehicles as potential challenges.
“Unless the land route is also affected, the water route is not effective. It involves significant delays, and the inability to transport vehicles poses a problem,” she explained.
The transport fares for the available land route between Kampala and Masaka via Mpigi-Gomba-Sembabule range between 25,000 to 30,000 Shillings.
As the repairs on Katonga Bridge continue, stakeholders are working to mitigate the impact on transportation and explore feasible alternatives to ensure continued connectivity for travellers in the affected region.