Damaged part of Kampala-Masaka highway to be restored in 3 weeks - UNRA

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has said it hopes to restore normal use of the damaged section of the Kampala-Masaka highway in three weeks.

This is after work on the road commenced.

In a short statement on Sunday, May 14, UNRA noted: "Emergency restoration works at #Katonga along Kampala-Masaka Highway have kicked off!"

"With favourable weather conditions, the anticipated timeline for the completion of these EMERGENCY works is 2-3 weeks. We request for your patience."

Currently, travellers from Kampala heading to Masaka are using the Mpigi-Butambala-Ssembabule road as an alternative route.

UNRA was forced to make the diversions after River Katonga burst its banks on May 11, cutting off the road.

The 220km river, which is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, starts from Lake Victoria and flows first, northwards into Lake Wamala.

The river then flows westwards to empty in Lake George, which connects through the Kazinga Channel with Lake Edward on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Kampala-Masaka highway is one of the busiest roads in the country. It is the main gateway to Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and DR Congo, handling major cargo to and fro.

According to reports, human activities, including sand mining are to blame for the alteration of the physical set-up of the land hydrology there.

The reports indicate that miners repeatedly dig trenches in the swamp that connects directly to Lake Victoria.

Allan Ssempebwa, the UNRA spokesperson, said they plan to raise the shape of the affected section so that future flooding does not affect the traffic on the road.