KITAGWENDA-Traders and farmers in Kitagwenda district have appealed to government to repair the bridge connecting Kitagwenda and Kamwenge districts after it was destroyed by River Mpanga which burst its banks in November last year.
River Mpanga originates from Rwenzori Mountains and snakes through Fort Portal City, Kabarole, Kamwenge, and Kitagwenda districts before flushing its waters into Lake George shared between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Farmers and traders said they fear crossing the bridge that is now on the verge of collapsing, adding that they are unable to trade their produce.
Africano Arinaitwe, a farmer in Rwenjaza Kitagwenda district said if not repaired, the damaged bridge will continue to pose danger in the area as some stubborn drivers try to use it.
“Kitagwenda as a district, we have only one main road that links us to other districts. And this is the same road we use to access services like health, education, and even going to the district and police. We use the same road crossing this real bridge to transport our produce to the market,” Arinaitwe said.
Heavy trucks now use Kamwenge-Ibanda road to reach Kitagwenda and spend more hours trying to navigate through the affected road.
The Kitagwenda district chairperson LCV, Ismail Mushemeza said the bridge which is located in Rutooma is a vital link to health services in the area as well as other social services.
“If the bridge is not worked on, it will be hard for people from the two sub-counties of Rwenjaza and Kanaara to access the district headquarters and even markets as well as accessing other districts,” he said.
He appealed to the Ministry of Works and Transport to reconsider repairing the road. He said the road connects districts of Ibanda, Rubirizi, and Kamwenge to Kitagwenda.
He said if government tarmacs the main road and fixes the bridge, business will be boosted within the neighboring districts and in Kitagwenda itself.
The Kitagwenda resident district commissioner, Longino Bahebwa Byagagiire warned heavy truck drivers against crossing the bridge, saying it is in a sorry state and can be used by small cars, which are not loaded.
Byagagiire said Uganda National Roads Authority [UNRA] has promised to work on the road soon.
“This bridge is now very weak and heavy trucks crossing through it can deteriorate the situation putting the lives of people in more danger. I also warn traders who sit atop loaded lorries to stop. You are putting your lives in danger. Any time, the bridge can collapse,” he said.
Kitagwenda district was carved out of Kamwenge district in 2019 but still depends on the mother district for most services.
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