Karuma Bridge, the connecting link between northern Uganda and the rest of the country, is set to be closed for extensive repair works, according to the minister of state for works and transport, Musa Ecweru.
In April this year, the bridge was temporarily closed to heavy vehicles after an assessment revealed significant structural defects. The government has since contracted the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and China Seventh Railway Group to undertake repairs, with a completion timeline of three months.
Addressing concerns from legislators about the deteriorating state of the bridge, Ecweru informed parliament during a mobile session in Gulu that rehabilitation efforts have already begun beneath the bridge. The next phase will involve surface repairs, prompting the need for a full closure to all traffic in the coming weeks. While the exact duration of the closure remains unspecified, Ecweru suggested that it could extend for several weeks.
Ecweru warned that any time from now, the bridge could cave in, especially with active traffic. So far, the government has mobilized Shs 6.8 billion of the Shs 7.9 billion needed for the repair works. Ecweru also mentioned that the government is collaborating with the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) to construct a new bridge over the River Nile, though he did not provide specific details about the project’s timeline.
The announcement comes after parliament approved a report from the sectoral committee on physical infrastructure, which called for the urgent rehabilitation of the Karuma Bridge. The committee emphasized that the continued closure of the bridge severely hinders the development of northern Uganda, as it is a vital route connecting the midwestern, northern, and West Nile sub-regions.
