MV Kalangala landing site at Nakiwogo upgraded

THE ministry of works and transport has upgraded the landing site for Marine Vessel (MV) Kalangala in Entebbe.

Formerly the passengers were passing through water to board disembark the vessel with the raised water levels as a result of the recent heavy downpours.

Eng. Yahaya Kirenzi from the ministry of works and transport who managed the project said the Lake Victoria water levels at Nakiwogo landing site rose leading to the landing facility submerging.

He said they have raised the facility through adding murrum and hardcore stone and the edging to avoid further deteriorating for smooth flow of passengers and vehicles to and from the vessel.

MV Kalangala was offered to the people of Kalangala by President Yoweri Museveni to ease transport and linkage of people of Kalangala to the mainland.

Bernard Khabakha a maritime specialist and an inspectors of  vessels  with the works and transport ministry said MV Kalangala was built by Damen Shipyards from Netherlands at a cost of about sh14.6b and completed in 2005 before being commissioned in 2006.

It was first operated by Mulowooza and Brother on a three year contract from 2006 before the ministry technical team look over its management until last year when it was contracted to National Oil Distributors for management.

The vessel leaves Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe   at 2:00pm arriving Lutoboka landing site in Kalangala at 5:00pm. It leaves Lutoboka the following day at 8:00am and arrives at Nakiwogo at 11:00am every day.

Fred Badda the Bujumba MP said transport between Entebbe and  Kalangala is normally paralysed whenever MV Kalangala is away for annual inspection and servicing which leads to locally built boats overloading  passengers.