New Ssezibwa bridge to be ready in December, contractor says

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The construction of the new Ssezibwa bridge is set to be completed in December this year, the contractor has revealed.

The construction of the sh54 billion bridge on River Ssezibwa on Mukono-Kayunga road is expected to take two years. Works began in 2024 after the old bridge, constructed in 1954, developed cracks, leading to a ban on heavy trucks.

The Ministry of Works and Transport contracted Dynaco Ltd, a local engineering company, to undertake the project.

According to the site engineer, Sam Nabimanya, construction of the bridge structure is almost complete, with 98% of the structural work finished, while overall physical progress stands at 60%.

"Construction of the bridge structure is fully completed, and we are now left with the installation of side barriers on the deck," Nabimanya said, noting that the new bridge is 60 metres long compared to the old one, which is 38 metres long.

He disclosed that this is the first arch bridge to be constructed in the country, explaining that the design allows vegetation to pass through easily, unlike the old bridge.

"The arches provide a bigger space for vegetation to go through the bridge, and there is no way the vegetation could block the space to cause flooding at the bridge," Nabimanya added.

The old Ssezibwa bridge

He further said that the old bridge had limitations, but the new one allows all types of vehicles to pass through freely. He noted that the bridge is expected to last for 120 years and, if well maintained, could serve even longer.

However, he pointed out challenges such as rain and scarcity of raw materials like gravel murram, which have slowed the pace of construction.

"Whenever it rains, we have to stop working and also getting murrum to fill in the swamp is also a big problem. We get it from far places, as it is difficult to get it nearer to the site," he added.

The project quality assurance controller, Eng. Derrick Arinaitwe said work has now shifted to widening the 1.6km swampy stretch in preparation for tarmacking the road section.

Arinaitwe said columns of concrete and steel have been erected to a depth of 25 metres where rock begins, to protect the structure from erosion.

Dynaco managing director, Eng. Jonathan Tugume said the works were executed under a design and build arrangement, noting that the contract was awarded on an emergency basis.

Tugume said the project has provided an opportunity to showcase the capability of Ugandan engineers in bridge construction.

"It is young Ugandan engineers who have done all the construction works on this bridge, and they have done it to a high level of standard," Tugume said, adding that the project demonstrates that local companies can handle major infrastructure works previously awarded to foreign firms.

Ssezibwa bridge connects the districts of Kayunga and Mukono across River Ssezibwa, a tributary of Lake Kyoga.