Karuma Bridge: Speaker urges UNRA to speed up repairs
May 07, 2024
In her communication to the House on Monday, Speaker Among urged the national roads authority (UNRA) to expedite works on the road.
Anita Among, Speaker of Parliament speaking during the plenary on May 6th. (New Vision Archive)
Edith Namayanja
Journalist @New Vision
___________________ Anita Among, Speaker of Parliament
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has urged the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to speed up the repairs at the Karuma bridge.
The Speaker says this will minimise the delays road users going to and from northern Uganda are encountering.
Last week, UNRA issued a public notice on the deterioration of the Karuma Bridge and restricted access to the bridge to only light vehicles including passenger service vehicles carrying a maximum of 28 people.
UNRA also issued alternative routes including passing through the Murchison Falls National Park.
In her communication to the house on Monday, May 6, 2024, Speaker Among urged UNRA to expedite works on the road.
Adhere to regulations
All vehicles entering the Murchison Falls National Park will be required to pay an entrance fee, except for those specifically prohibited from using the Karuma Bridge as per the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) directive, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has said.
All vehicles must also adhere to the park time, that is, travel from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, there will be no hooting within the park, speed limits must be followed, and there will be no stopping.
These are among the raft of measures UWA, the government agency that manages and protects wildlife in Uganda, released on Sunday, May 5, for motorists that will use the Murchison Falls National Park, after Karuma Bridge was closed to lorries, trailers, and buses on May 5, 2024, due to cracks.
Bashir Hangi, UWA manager of communication and public relations, in a statement, requested all motorists to cooperate by adhering to the regulations they had released.
“We draw the attention of the public to the recent announcement by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) regarding the closure of Karuma bridge to lorries, trailers, and buses. In light of this development, we would like to offer guidance on utilising the alternative route through Murchison Falls National Park,” Hangi stated.
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