UGANDA, Mbarara | Real Muloodi News | Mbarara City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi and City Engineer Hilary Mugisha faced scrutiny from residents of Nyamitanga and Katete wards regarding the delayed repair of the Katete Bridge, despite an alleged allocation of USh500 million from the central government.
The meeting, held on July 24, 2024, addressed concerns over the bridge on River Rwizi, which has been closed to vehicular traffic for nearly two months due to extensive damage.
Currently, only pedestrians and cyclists can use the bridge, originally constructed in 1999 as a temporary structure and has since undergone repairs about four times.
The closure has significantly disrupted local transportation, particularly affecting travel to Isingiro District and nearby areas.
Residents expressed frustration over the alleged mishandling of funds for the bridge’s repair.
“We have been silent for quite a long time from the time you closed that bridge and you have taken us for granted,” said a resident known as Uncle Speed.
He criticised the City Council for closing the bridge without prior consultation and not initiating repairs promptly.
He also expressed a willingness to fund the repairs independently if the council failed to act.
Another resident, Vincent Tumwebaze, questioned the necessity of the USh500 million allocation for the bridge repairs, suggesting that the cost should not exceed USh10 million. He voiced concerns about the potential misuse of funds by city officials.
“If you have the money already on your account why don’t you start working on that bridge?” Tumwebaze asked, reflecting the sentiments of many attendees who were sceptical of the council’s intentions.
Additional complaints were raised by Justine Kansiime, who highlighted the economic impact of the bridge closure on local businesses and landlords. She proposed that residents and business owners pool resources to repair the bridge.
“It’s painful for us as landlords from Katete, our tenants have started running from our houses due to the long distances they take caused by the closure of the bridge,” she said.
Engineer Mugisha responded by stating that the city was in the procurement process and assured the residents that work on the temporary bridge would begin by mid-August.
Mayor Kakyebezi confirmed the receipt of funds and emphasised that the government was committed to repairing the bridge, thus rejecting the residents’ offer to contribute financially.
“Government has committed itself to work on that bridge,” Kakyebezi asserted, recalling that he had overseen the construction of a temporary bridge in 2017 during his first term in office.
The alleged removal of an additional USh5.7 billion allocation for constructing a permanent bridge in the national budget was also discussed. This allocation, reportedly included after lobbying by Mbarara City South Member of Parliament Mwine Mpaka, was said to have been cut after a review by the president.
Residents expressed disappointment with the current leadership, noting that no significant infrastructure projects had been completed since Kakyebezi’s election.
They pointed out that previous infrastructure, including the temporary bridge and a small tarmac road in Katete, was built during the tenure of former Mayor Wilson Tumwine.
The meeting concluded with assurances from city officials about the impending repairs, but residents remained cautious, demanding accountability and timely action.
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