On Friday, December 20, Karuma Bridge was reopened, with the first passenger bus from Gulu to Kampala crossing over. The ceremony officiated by the state minister for Works and Transport, Musa Ecweru, met with celebrations from jubilant residents of Karuma and a hoist of traditional Acholi dancers.
Ecweru described the event as a special day for Uganda, in particular residents of Kiryandongo district and northern Uganda, who had been significantly affected by traffic diversions during the repairs.
Ecweru emphasised the urgency of rehabilitating the bridge to restore the smooth transportation of goods and passengers, commending the government’s swift intervention.
He also praised residents for their patience and resilience during the closure, despite hardships like increased transport costs and declining local businesses.
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“I’m grateful for the people in Kiryandongo, particularly Karuma centre. These people, the closure of this road threatened to kill their town, but they were patient. And today, the town is coming back to life. They used to call me and ask me… I have been earning by just cooking and roasting things for the people passing. Now I’m starving’ and I didn’t have an answer. I would just say by the grace of our Lord you will survive, and I’m happy most of them have survived to see the road open.”
Karuma Bridge, reopened following over three months of rehabilitation, was first opened to light traffic; heavy trucks and lorries carrying cattle and other goods soon followed, joining small vehicles.
UNRA’s head of bridges and structures, Engineer Lawrence Pario, mentioned that 95 percent of the major rehabilitation works had been completed, noting that only four expansion joints essential for the bridge’s movement remain on their way from China, expected to arrive by January 2025.
The Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) closed the bridge in September after engineers identified significant faults in its deck, expansion joints, and bearings.
However, leaders remain unsatisfied, with concerns about the delayed completion of auxiliary works and visible cracks on the bridge deck.
Gilbert Olanya, Kilak South legislator, highlighted the importance of promptly installing the expansion joints to ensure the bridge’s durability.
Eng Michael Ochola, the site engineer, reassured them that the visible cracks are only temporary spaces filled with sawdust and geotextile materials to accommodate the expansion joints, which will be installed in January.
The Shs 6.8 billion rehabilitation project was undertaken by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and China Seventh Railway Group. Engineers say the works have extended the 62-year-old bridge’s lifespan by over 20 years.
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