Members of Parliament have called for expeditious completion of repairs at Karuma and Pakwach bridges, saying any delays may tantamount to deadly disasters.
Legislators complained that the two old bridges are in critical condition with faulty and non-functional parts and that repair works have delayed.
“The Karuma bridge bearings were faulty, expansion joints had worn out, structural cracks had developed underneath the deck thereby requiring interventions to enable traffic continue to use the bridge,” said Tony Awany, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure.
He said that the emergency repair works on Karuma bridge that were expected to be completed by June 2024, as earlier communicated by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) have not yet commenced.
“UNRA should ensure strict adherence to the work programme for the remedial works on Karuma bridge so that normal traffic is restored within three to four months in any case not later than 19 December 2024,” said Awany.
Awany made these remarks while presenting the committee’s report on the state of transport infrastructure in Northern Uganda, during the first regional plenary sitting at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City on 28 August 2024. The sitting was chaired by the Speaker, Anita Among.
According to Awany, the Pakwach bridge is not any different from Karuma saying its major compartments are in a state that requires urgent response.
“When we visited as a committee, we observed structural cracks on the abutments, expansion joints had failed, and ridges on the western bank of the river had weakened with visible erosion,” added Awany.
Pakwach bridge is also threatened by a floating vegetation that has become an impediment to water flow associated with flooding.
Members were concerned that business and transport to and fro the Northern region have been significantly disturbed, especially on Karuma bridge which has been closed to heavy traffic since April 2024.
“Karuma bridge has stayed for 62 years, Pakwach bridge is over 50 years old and we are still talking about emergency repairs. The flooding around Pakwach bridge is because we are not proactive, we need to be proactive to avoid any deadly consequences,” said Hon. Jesca Ababiku, (NRM, Adjumani District Woman MP).
Hon. Jane Avur NRM, Pakwach Woman MP) related how the flooding around Pakwach bridge has disrupted trade within the area and appealed to government to prioritise infrastructure in the coming budget.
“The floating vegetation is now close to the bridge and is killing fishing activity which is our cash cow. We need to send a strong signal to government, to the finance ministry that expenditure on infrastructure such as bridges and roads is made a priority,” Avur said.
MPs taking the advantage of a sitting exclusively focused on issues related to Northern region, enlisted a number of bridges, roads, water transport and airfields within the region that pass for priority areas in the next financial year.
Hon. Charles Onen (Indep., Laroo-Pece Division) asked that government pays special attention to tourism roads in the region to boost its tourism potential. He cited the roads leading to the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Agago District and Port Patiko in Gulu District.
“Every year multitudes come to celebrate those martyrs [Daudi Okello and Jildo Irwa] and these sites contribute to the local tourism revenue, I pray that the roads are considered for construction,” Onen said.
Government was further tasked to finance completion of oil roads such as those in Nwoya district which are reportedly dilapidated.
The chairperson, Lango Parliamentary Caucus, Hon. Samuel Opio asked that Lango sub-region be prioritised in the next budget for infrastructure development, saying only three percent of the roads are tarmacked.
Speaking on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abed Bwanika who also represents Kimanya-Kabonera Division in Masaka City, guided that for each regional sitting, Parliamentary regional caucus should come up with priority areas that they should present in the plenary.
