A section of MPs from Northern Uganda have expressed dissatisfaction over the total closure of Karuma Bridge for three months by the Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala to allow refurbishment works without interruption.
These, including; Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya and West Moyo MP Tom Aza, have cited the devastating impact of the bridge’s closure on the business community and cross-border trade with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They have also questioned why the Government isn’t temporarily opening the newly constructed bridge at Karuma dam instead of diverting traffic through Masindi-Murchison Falls Game Park where light vehicles are charged shs 30,000, heavy vehicles shs 50,000 and each person in a vehicle is charged shs 10,000.
The MPs are also pushing for the suspension of the road fee charges per vehicle passing through the game park.
MP Olanya further alleged that the closure is a ploy to embezzle Government funds, as sources from the Ministry of Works claim the bridge can handle light vehicle traffic during repairs.
However, Bashir Hangi, the Head of Communication and Public Relations at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), earlier on said no vehicle will be charged for crossing via the Murchison Falls National Park once it’s cleared for transporting passengers and goods due to the closure of the Karuma Bridge.
The Works Minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala on September 17th 2024 while at Karuma Bridge announced a total closure of the Bridge to all traffic, starting Monday September 23rd 2024, for a period of three months, to allow completion of the ongoing rehabilitation works.
The rehabilitation of the 61 year old bridge connecting the rest of the northern and northeastern Uganda, West Nile, South Sudan and DR Congo was awarded to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and the China Seventh Railway Group to repair the defects on the bridge at a cost of Shs7.9 billion.
By Francis Lubega
18th Sept 2024
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