New bridge lights up Jinja sky ahead of commissioning

The New Jinja Bridge on Monday evening was bathed in bright colours as it underwent illumination testing ahead of its official commissioning on Wednesday.

The multi-billion cable suspension bridge across River Nile at Njeru will be commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni.

The 525 metre bridge will replace the Nalubaale Bridge and is expected to display a multitude of colours, primarily the national colours.

The construction of the new bridge was financed by the Japanese government.

The existing Nalubaale Bridge was constructed by the British in 1954. With an increasing business trajectory and transportation of the products from Mombasa to Uganda, government realised the need for the construction of a new bridge.

From the evidence of Monday's tests, Jinja's skyline at night is set to change spectacularly.