Bridge under water for six months

By Moses Nampala

Celetyo bridge on the River Grik in Kween district on the Mbale-Namalu-Moroto road has been submerged for the past six months.

Passengers said because of the state of the bridge, most commuter taxis that previously plied the route have abandoned the route, leading to a rise in transport fares from Mbale to Amudat from sh15,000 to sh20,000.

Ismail Masambo, a truck driver, said during the wet season, the level of the river rises to about two metres above the bridge.

The river originates from Mt. Elgon and flows through the districts of Kapchorwa, Kween and Kumi before it joins Lake Kyoga.

Samuel Watuwa, a taxi driver who plys the Mbale-Amudat route, said during the wet season, each motorist parts with sh20,000 to hire a tractor from a nearby farmer to tow vehicles across the bridge.

James Bwayo, another taxi driver, said most taxis plying the route are four-wheel drive vehicles.

“Many of our colleagues with taxis that do not have four-wheel drive have abandoned the route because of the state of the bridge,” he said.

Dan Alinange, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) spokesperson, on Monday admitted there was a problem on the road, but added that there were plans to fix it.

“The Government, through UNRA, has contracted the repair of the road to Term Construction Company,” he added. He said the work would include grading the road and adding first-class murram.

Alinange said the work on the road will also include raising the road surface, opening the drainage system and fixing bridges.

He added that the Government will later tarmack the road.