UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has announced that it will not repair the damaged Ssezibwa Bridge, and instead, they are planning to construct a new bridge to replace the existing one.
UNRA took this decision due to the structural defects and failures detected in the old bridge.
Heavy vehicles have been prohibited from using the bridge since UNRA blocked them from crossing in October.
The 70-year-old bridge, which had already exceeded its intended lifespan, had been experiencing a high volume of traffic from heavy trucks carrying sugarcane and other goods.
To alleviate the risk posed by the bridge’s structural issues, UNRA has limited its use to lighter vehicles only, turning away heavy cargo trucks.
Allan Ssempebwa, the UNRA spokesperson, emphasised that the procurement process for selecting a contractor to work on the new permanent bridge is currently underway.
“We are not working under normal situations, but are handling an emergency situation,” Ssempebwa stated. He added, “I cannot now commit myself when the construction of the new bridge will start and when it is expected to end.”
UNRA has placed warning notices in Bukolooto, Kalagi, and Kabimbiri trading centres to guide drivers to use alternative routes.
Traffic from Jinja to Kampala is advised to use the Kampala-Jinja Road or the Njeru-Kisoga-Mukono Road. Traffic from Kayunga heading to Kampala is advised to use the Kyampisi–Namataba Road.
For traffic from Luweero heading to Kayunga, the route includes Kalagi-Mukono–Namataba-Kyampisi–Kayunga.
The bridge’s history dates back to 1953 when it was constructed to facilitate the transportation of cotton and coffee, which were significant cash crops in the region at the time.
Ms Gidah Nakankya, an elder in Kayunga Town, described the bridge as a crucial piece of infrastructure for the area.
Before its construction, travellers were reliant on canoes to cross the River Ssezibwa, making the bridge a vital development for Kayunga and the broader region.
Before the bridge’s closure, many motorists had been using it to bypass traffic jams, particularly those commuting from Nakawa, Bweyogerere, Seeta, and Mukono towns on the Jinja–Kampala road.
The replacement of the bridge will address not only its structural issues but also facilitate more convenient transportation in the region.
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