ARUA | BROKEN | BRIDGE 

ARUA - Residents of Odravu-Dadamu ward in Ayivu East constituency Arua city have asked the Government to construct the broken bridge on River Ogurugua. 

Residents say the bridge connects the people of Odravu-Dadamu to Aroi ward, which links to Arua city business centre. 

It is a short route that connects the people to the city centre for business and administrative services. 

Communities from the lower parts of Terego district and lower Madi-Okollo district also access the town centre through the route. 

Agnes Bako, a resident of Arijo village in Odravu Dadamu ward, Ayivu division, says the bridge makes access to markets easy to sell vegetables and other produce. 

Bako asked the area leaders to construct the bridge before the rains start, adding that as schools reopen, children will also need the bridge to access education facilities. 

Luke Dratre, 39, a resident of Pajulu Cell in Odravu-Dadamu ward, said the broken bridge has caused them a lot of suffering. The youth piled stones in the river to allow cars and motorcycles to cross, but these get stuck in the river. He appealed to the city leaders to put more effort towards the construction of Ogurugua bridge to promote development in the area. 

The broken bridge has denied opportunities to the people. Paulin Adakuru, another resident, urged the leaders to work on the bridge to enable women to access markets and other services.

This has caused disagreements between bodaboda riders and their customers as they argue over the high charges due to the long distance.  

Felix Abibo, a bodaboda rider at Otokoa Market stage, says riders face a lot of challenges while transporting huge luggage and passengers as they are forced to use the longest route to reach Arua city business centre.  

“We the bodaboda riders will be happy if city leaders work on the bridge this financial year, for easy movement and access to the city centre,” Abibo said.

Robbery 

Gilbert Ejibo, the former youth councillor for Dadamu sub-county in Ayivu division and a resident of Indrifa cell, said there have been robberies at the broken bridge. 

He said because motorcycle riders cross the river slowly, thieves waylay them at the broken bridge. 

Apart from the Ugurugua bridge, there are others, such as River Jordan, a seasonal river, which has become impassable for motor vehicles and needs to be fixed. 

The mayor of Arua city, Sam Wadri Nyakua, appealed to the locals and road users to be calm as the city engineer makes assessments on the bridges. 

“We have already done a feasibility assessment and since it is an emergency, we will have to work on Ugurugua bridge this financial year,” Wadri said.