River Mayanja washes away bridge

Residents of Kaloke village in Semuto Nakaseke district and Busiro in Wakiso district have to endure longer alternatives routes as River Mayanja washed away the bridge that connects the two districts.

The bridge was washed away April 28 by torrential rains that have hit the area. As a result, the tributaries feeding the main river flooded and swept away the bridge.

 

During inspection on Thursday, the Luwero acting station manager, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Ivan Onapa Luwero said that after learning of the incident on April 30, the Authority mobilized equipment and workers to have the bridge restored.

Onapa said the repair work will be completed in two weeks.

Some of the residents had to use longer routes on boda boda motorcycles and the cost of transportation has more than tripled.

To access Wakiso from Semuto, one has to use a boda boda through Gobero-Semuto to Kikubampanga and it costs more than sh10, 000.

 

One boda boda operator Haruna Nabembezi says transporting passengers through Gobero to Semuto is so costly and many cannot afford. However, he says some passengers have no alternative but to pay the fee because they have to travel no matter the costs.

Onapa said the repair work is being done from the UNRA Force on account where the money, equipment and labor is all got from the fund road; the cost of repair is estimated at sh69m.

Other areas affected by the rains are Butalangu to Ngoma, Butalangu to Kapeeka and Semuto to Segonga.  

A woman crosses over an improvised foot bridge on River Mayanja