New Kyoga ferry takes shape
May 06, 2016
At 9 Nautical miles (16.7km) per hour, the new ferry shall travel at twice the speed of MV Kyoga 1 which does 4.5 knots (8.33kms) an hour and takes one hour and 10 minutes to cross the 9.1km lake stretch from Namasale in Amolatar district to Zengebe in Nakasongola
Construction of MV Kyoga II, a new ferry to ply the Zengebe - Namasale route across Lake Kyoga is on course and due for launching by July officials have said.
The mid-ship, the beams, the aft as well as the portside and the starboard sides have been completed. The two 400 HP (horse power) engines have also been delivered and only awaiting mounting. Only the staircase, the ramps, the passenger and cabin crew compartments and branding remain.
"In about two months we should be ready to start operations," said a Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) staff who preferred anonymity.
The $3.7m (sh12.58b) ferry is being built by a Danish company, Johs, Gram- Hanssen-Western Marine Shipyard and will have the same passenger capacity of 16 vehicles and 120 passengers like the old - MV Kyoga I launched in December 2012.
At 9 Nautical miles (16.7km) per hour, the new ferry shall travel at twice the speed of MV Kyoga 1 which does 4.5 knots (8.33kms) an hour and takes one hour and 10 minutes to cross the 9.1km lake stretch from Namasale in Amolatar district to Zengebe in Nakasongola.
The additional ferry will not only boost trade across the lake but also reduce chaotic scenes that usually characterize the loading process wherever vehicular traffic outstrips capacity.
At the moment missing trip means waiting for another two-and-a-half hours or taking a much longer route via Lira or Masindi Port.
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