Construction on River Enyau bridge begins
Sep 30, 2007
The disaster preparedness minister last Thursday commissioned the construction of a bridge across River Enyau in Maracha/Terego district.
By Frank Mugabi
The disaster preparedness minister last Thursday commissioned the construction of a bridge across River Enyau in Maracha/Terego district.
Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said the Danish Government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-funded project would improve accessibility between Rhino Camp and Imvepi settlements, and facilitate the on-going refugee repatriation programme.
He said there were 59,364 refugees, majority of them Sudanese, hosted in Arua and Yumbe districts who were returning home after 20 years under the voluntary repatriation programme of UNHCR.
“It will reduce travel time and costs for communities, humanitarian workers and service providers on operations between Rhino Camp, Imvepi and Madi-Okollo refugee settlements.â€
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony at Likido village, the Odupi sub-county chairman, Augustine Vuni, said the bridge would help the locals who had been crossing the river using remote means.
He said the passengers and luggage were carried on floaters curved out of empty jerrycans and logs and controlled by swimmers. The swimmers charge sh1,000 to take a person across the river.
Vuni revealed that at least 32 people had drowned while crossing the river in the past six years. A number of livestock had also perished in the same way, he added.
Arua district chairman Richard Andama Ferua thanked the Government for the project that he said they began appealing for in 1995.
Transport state minister Simon Ejua said the sh1.4b project to be undertaken by Dotts Services, would be completed in the next six months.
The disaster preparedness minister last Thursday commissioned the construction of a bridge across River Enyau in Maracha/Terego district.
Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said the Danish Government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-funded project would improve accessibility between Rhino Camp and Imvepi settlements, and facilitate the on-going refugee repatriation programme.
He said there were 59,364 refugees, majority of them Sudanese, hosted in Arua and Yumbe districts who were returning home after 20 years under the voluntary repatriation programme of UNHCR.
“It will reduce travel time and costs for communities, humanitarian workers and service providers on operations between Rhino Camp, Imvepi and Madi-Okollo refugee settlements.â€
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony at Likido village, the Odupi sub-county chairman, Augustine Vuni, said the bridge would help the locals who had been crossing the river using remote means.
He said the passengers and luggage were carried on floaters curved out of empty jerrycans and logs and controlled by swimmers. The swimmers charge sh1,000 to take a person across the river.
Vuni revealed that at least 32 people had drowned while crossing the river in the past six years. A number of livestock had also perished in the same way, he added.
Arua district chairman Richard Andama Ferua thanked the Government for the project that he said they began appealing for in 1995.
Transport state minister Simon Ejua said the sh1.4b project to be undertaken by Dotts Services, would be completed in the next six months.