In a move to enhance trade and improve service delivery in Kanungu District, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) have built a new bridge connecting Nyamizi Cell in Kihanda Sub-county to Kakoni LC1 in Nyarugunda Parish.
The bridge, worth 50 million shillings and constructed by the UPDF Engineers Brigade, is part of the ongoing community support initiatives aligned with the 45th Tarehe Sita commemorations.
Its development comes after years of challenges for residents who struggled to move their agricultural products—such as bananas, coffee, and livestock—to markets, and to reach essential services including schools and health facilities.
Maj Albert Mukama, who heads the UPDF Engineers team in Kigezi, said the project utilized locally available materials like timber and stones, following an efficient and affordable engineering design.
He noted that the bridge meets military engineering specifications, making it durable and safe even for large and heavy vehicles. He further mentioned that the team has built similar structures in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo that can withstand the weight of heavy trucks and tankers.
Maj Mukama explained that the bridge was constructed to address the difficulties residents previously encountered when crossing the rugged terrain and accessing nearby services. He said the new structure has an expected lifespan of at least 20 years if the community maintains it properly.
The local chairperson, Kintu Henry, praised the UPDF for the intervention, saying the community had long faced challenges crossing the steep valley. He added that in the past, some residents particularly school children had lost their lives while attempting to cross the stream using makeshift bridges during heavy rains.
Brig Gen Micheal Kibuye, the UPDF Director of Civil-Military Cooperation, commended the engineering team for completing the project in under a month. He noted that this bridge is one of the many civil–military projects the UPDF is carrying out in Kigezi as part of the 45th Tarehe Sita activities.
The bridge is scheduled to be officially handed over to the community on January 6, 2026.
