New bridge washed away in Gulu

Jun 15, 2010

A downpour has washed away a recently-commissioned bridge on a community road in Gulu district. The bridge on Bwonagweno stream, a tributary of Unyama River that runs across Laliya-Pongdwongo community road in Bungatira sub-county, was commissioned two months ago by ACTED, a local NGO.

By Cornes Lubangakene

A downpour has washed away a recently-commissioned bridge on a community road in Gulu district. The bridge on Bwonagweno stream, a tributary of Unyama River that runs across Laliya-Pongdwongo community road in Bungatira sub-county, was commissioned two months ago by ACTED, a local NGO.

Ben Ocan, a resident who did not know that the bridge had collapsed, is said to have fallen in the river and died during the floods. Two others have also been injured since the bridge was washed away.

“It is unfortunate that we have already lost life on this bridge. As a sub-county, we shall include the construction of the bridge on our emergency funding and lobby development partners to fund the construction so that we reduce the risk our people are facing,” said Simon Opige, the subcounty chief.

ACTED engineer John Kinyera said the construction materials used on the bridge were of poor quality. “The opening of the community road depended on the construction of the bridge but money was not enough to construct a strong structure,” he said.

Kinyera added that because the community wanted to use the road, the organisation had to construct the bridge. “There is nothing much we can do now because the project has ended,” he said.

Gulu district vice-chairman Mcmot Kitara said the district would carry out investigations to find out who was responsible for the shoddy work.

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