Emergency bridge repairs have begun on Katonga Bridge on Masaka-Kampala Highway. The bridge, which is a major entrance to regional borders like Tanzania, DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, caved in in mid-May 2023 following heavy rains and floods.
A few days later the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) started assembling equipment and construction materials to embark on the repair works. According to the Unra spokesperson, Mr Allan Ssempebwa, the water level at River Katonga had decreased thus allowing real work to start.
“Everything we need is already on site and if we get favourable weather conditions, the planned emergency works to allow traffic flow will take us just between two and three weeks,” he said in an interview.
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Implementation of the repair works for the Katonga Bridge on the Masaka-Kampala Highway
The task of restoring traffic flow at the damaged segment of the highway is being managed by experienced engineers. Moreover, great results are expected from the team of engineers on site.
Unra had reportedly anticipated damages on some sections of the Kampala-Masaka highway and came up with well-designed plans. Additionally, they are updating now to improve the state of the Katonga-Lwera section. This section is low-lying and shall raise the road profile by installing bigger culverts and improving the drainage system.
Motorists are advised to temporarily use the alternative route to Kampala through Bukomansimbi, Sembabule, Gomba and Butambala.
