The Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, has revealed that building of a brand new bridge on the River Katonga alongside the Kampala-Masaka Highway will begin in October this 12 months.
He made the revelation whereas responding to a matter of nationwide significance raised by Kashari North County Member of Parliament, Hon. Basil Bataringaya, throughout the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 23 July 2024.
Bataringaya expressed concern that repairs on the prevailing bridge had been deserted and tasked the minister to provide dates by which the important thing commerce route can be mounted.
“Last 12 months, the Katonga bridge was swept away and closed for greater than six months. Temporary measures had been taken to restore this bridge, and visitors was channeled by means of the lengthy Sembabule highway which was inconveniencing to merchants in phrases of time and cash,” Bataringaya mentioned.
He urged the works minister to create a shorter different route as works on the affected bridge take form.
“And on this case, I suggest the Villa Maria-Kalungu-Masaka Road,” he added.
Katumba Wamala mentioned that the Katonga bridge was compromised resulting from meteorological adjustments which impacted the behaviour of the river.
“We needed to examine the meteorological behaviours of that river in order that we are able to make a brand new construction which is resilient and can stand the take a look at of time. We couldn’t rush into establishing kind of the identical bridge which had been compromised,” he mentioned.
The minister additionally revealed that the contractor will deal with the challenges inside Kalandazi and Lwera swamps to make sure that the part of the highway is restored to satisfy the challenges of the truck volumes.
He additionally referred to as on highway customers alongside the Kampala-Masaka Highway to train endurance as building works on the brand new bridge takes place.
“I need us to know these buildings aren’t easy buildings to do. If we do a construction in a rush, and it provides away in a number of years, it will likely be this similar House that can put us to activity. This is a really delicate construction and so it ought to be performed with all of the warning and element it deserves,” mentioned Katumba Wamala.
In May 2023, the Katonga bridge was destroyed by flash floods prompting the Government to create a diversion for heavy vehicles to the Mpigi-Sembabule-Masaka Road.
