MBARARA, August 1, 2024 – Residents, and leaders of Mbarara City’s South Division are concerned about the deteriorating state of bridges connecting their cells, and wards to the city.
According to Jomo Mugabe, Mayor Mbarara City South Division, most of the bridges in Katete ward were washed away by heavy downpours in January, and since then, residents who include traders, farmers, leaders and learners among others have been struggling to travel to Mbarara City.
The bridges that the residents want repaired include; Katete Main Bridge, which connects Mbarara City to Katete, Kanyeyite which connects Kakoba-Nyakaizi to Karugangama cell-Katete ward, Taso Village Bridge which connects the city to Nyamitanga, Katete ward.
However, through community service, residents in Karugangama have always repaired the dilapidated Kanyeyite Bridge.
Katete Main Bridge
In April, 2024, the Area MP, Mwine Mpaka told residents that parliament had received a bill of quantities amount to Shs 6.9 billion to work on the Katete Main Bridge this financial year 2024/2025.
“I want to give you good news that the Ministry of Works and Transport 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,” Mpaka said then.
Whereas the bill of quantities was released for Katete Bridge that connects Mbarara city to Isingiro district and Tanzania, no funds were provided for its construction this financial year.
And during the stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, Mbarara City Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi confirmed to the residents of Katete ward that they only have Shs 500 million to do repairs on the dilapidated bridge.
The mayor urged the residents against holding any demonstration over the matter, noting that even if they demonstrate, there is no money this financial year to construct the permanent bridge unless the funds are provided in a supplementary budget.
“Don’t expect that we are going to construct a permanent bridge this financial year. We just have 500mln for maintenance of the current one. “We are also hurting because of the bridge has paralyzed transport,” he said, noting that the renovation works on the bridge would begin soon.
Pain of bridge users
John Nyinomwe, a businessman dealing in apartments and rentals, lamented the loss he has suffered since 2023, when most of his tenants vacated his premises after the collapse of Katete Main Bridge.
“Mayor and your team, we have suffered. Why don’t you allow us to do community service for our bridge so that our people can get where to pass? You have really taken us for granted when some of our businesses are still being affected by effects of Covid19,” Nyinomwe said.
Mary Komucunguzi, LCI Chairperson Rwemirinzi cell also appealed to the city leadership to allow locals to install temporary bridges by themselves.
“We have some money which we can use to establish temporary bridges. People have run away from our rentals. That means we are being hurt economically. Even lodges in my area are no longer doing business because of the closed bridge,” said Komucunguzi.
Fredrick Anyine, a resident of Karugangama cell also reminded the city leadership to think about Kanyeyite bridge which is also in a sorry state.
Steven Malish, a student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology [MUST], said that his colleagues now use Taso Village Bridge because it provides a shorter route to the university. He, however, said during the rainy season, it is risky to use the bridge.
“Sometimes when the river fills to the brim, we cannot cross the bridge, and recently, it collapsed. We were forced to use the Nyamitanga road and it was so costly since one pays Shs 3,000 on boda-boda to school every day. We ask the government to intervene and have the bridge fixed,” Malish said.
Muhammad Byansi, councillor representing Kakoba ward said since 2023 about 15 people have drowned in River Rwizi due to the dilapidated bridges, thus calling upon government for an immediate intervention.
On his part, Hillary Mugisha, the city engineer, said it is the responsibility of the central government to construct a permanent bridge, and not the local governments since it on the road managed by the Uganda National Roads Authority [UNRA].
https://thecooperator.news/construction-of-katonga-bridge-to-begin-in-october/
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