Floods destroy Kibaale bridge

Sep 19, 2011

The old Muzizi bridge on the Kagadi-Kyenjojo road has been swept away, leaving travellers stranded without an alternative route.

BY ISMAEL KASOOHA

The old Muzizi bridge on the Kagadi-Kyenjojo road has been swept away, leaving travellers stranded without an alternative route.

The Uganda National Roads Authority engineer based in Fort Portal, Marceliano Rubahamya, said the bridge was being used to cross from Kyenjojo to Kibaale.

“Since there is no immediate remedy for the problem, motorists have been advised to use alternative routes,” said Rubahamya.

He said they were waiting for the water levels to subside so that they can assess the damage and clear the debris piled on the river.

Rubahamya said construction of the new bridge, that was being done by Spencon, would continue when the water levels subside.

He said they had consulted the works ministry to see if they can set up a temporary bridge to ease transport.

Rubahamya warned against using canoes, saying although the water level had gone down, the river was still unsafe.

This was after business people started using canoes to transport people across the river. A passenger had to pay sh5,000 to cross from either side.

The New Vision team which crossed the flooded river from Kibaale to Kyenjojo and back said the experience was scary given the speed at which the water was running.

When crossing the river the waters push the canoe to the opposite direction before it gains stability in the middle of the river.

The scribes reported that neither the passengers nor the pilots used life jackets.

The area local council I chairman, John Karalike Besige, appealed to higher authorities to take action before water-borne diseases hit the area.

Buyaga West MP Barnabus Tinkasimire said it was fortunate that the river flooded when engineers were around.

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