Mbarara City leaders irked as ministry fails to repair major bridge

MBARARA, November 15, 2023 – Mbarara City leaders headed by mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi are not happy that the Ministry of Works and Transport has failed to work on the dilapidated Katete Bridge located in Katete Ward.

Kakyebezi said that the bridge, whose repair requires about Shs 7 billion connects Mbarara City to Isingiro district, a major agricultural hub, producing bananas, livestock and other agricultural products that are sold in the city and other towns in Uganda.

He said part from the Katete Bridge connecting Katete-Nyamityobora, other bridges that need repair are Rwentondo-Rubiri Bridge, Taso-Nyamitanga Bridge and Kanyeyite Bridge that connects Nyakaizi Cell and Karugangama Cell.

He said the situation usually worsens during the heavy rains that wash away the bridges, blocking pedestrians, school going children and motorists from crossing River Rwizi to access services and attend to their businesses in the city.

During an extraordinary council, mayor Kakyebezi said he is tired of repairs on Katete Bridge.

“We are tied with repairs. We have written several letters. I have also been to the Ministry of Works and Transport but the answer is that they lack finances,” Kakyebezi said.

“Last time we heard that they spent about Shs 16mln to put timber and metal plates, this time around they used Shs 6mln to put only patches of metal plates and in a weeks’ time the bridge is now impassable. Is there value for money really? Can they account for the expenditure of Shs 6mln on the bridge renovation?” asked a local resident, Ronald Mwanje.

However, Kakyebezi said they spent Shs 5.1mln but he is also tired of regular renovations of the bridge that have consumed the city council’s budget.

“Let the town clerk explain the variance of the figures about how much was spent on the bridge repair but what I know the money which we budgeted was 5.1mln, he said, threatening to close the bridge to road traffic.

Councilor Muhammad Byansi said since August about 10 people have drowned in River Rwizi as they cross the dilapidated bridges.

“It is unfortunate that we are losing our people over these bridges in a sorry state when the ministry of works is looking on. Last time, it was three school going children that drowned in the river while they were going back home,” Byansi said.

Mwine Mpaka, the MP Mbarara City South said the Ministry of Works has Katete Bridge in plans, as he urged the city leadership to remain patient for the funds.

“I want to give you good news that the Ministry of Works released the bill of quantities for that bridge. It requires Shs 6.9bln. Right now, we are in the process to see how we can put it in the budget of the next financial year as a priority,” he said.

Meanwhile, the City Council Speaker, Bonny Tashobya said they need to commit some funds in the next financial year budget to work on Katete Bridge as an emergency.

“Katete Ward is one of the fastest growing areas in this city where we are getting a lot of revenue, so we cannot sit and wait for the next financial year when it is an emergency,” Tashobya said.

However, the City Town Clerk, Assy Abirebe Tumwesigire advised the councillors that the construction of the Katete Bridge is the responsibility of the Ministry of Works and Transport, not local governments.

https://thecooperator.news/major-bridge-develops-cracks-as-heavy-rains-pound-namisindwa-district/

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