Government reveales that temporary Katonga bridge will be ready in five days

The Minister of Works and Transport Gen Edward Katumba Wamala has revealed that a temporary bridge is going to be erected over River Katonga on Kampala–Masaka Highway in five days to allow light vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians to cross.

China Communication Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) has been contracted to do the work.

The Kampala-Masaka Highway was closed on May 11 following the flash floods that swept away part of the River Katonga Bridge, forcing motorists to use the diversion route through Mpigi-Butambala-Gomba-Sembabule –Bukomansimbi –Villa Maria-Nyendo-Masaka.
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“We have given them a target of five days to erect a temporary bridge for small cars, boda bodas and pedestrians. By May 28, we expect that infrastructure to be in place to allow traffic flow before they embark on a permanent bridge,” the minister said while inspecting damaged bridge at River Katonga on Friday.



He said the ministry had also identified contractors to repair the damaged section of the diversion route especially between Villa-Maria and Nyendo and also Villa-Maria –Kabulasoke Road which connects the districts of Kalungu and Gomba.

Eng Joseph Otim, the director Roads Naintenance at Uganda National Roads Authority(Unra) explained that the planned temporary bridge at River Katonga is going to be steel made and will last for a month.

“It [temporary bridge] is going to be a steel bridge and after one month we will be able to have traffic flow on both sides,” he said.

Motorists using the Masaka diversion route had already expressed concern that they incur extra expenses on fuel and some sections of the road like Masaka - Villa-Maria is narrow and has started developing holes at Kigo swamp, slowing down traffic on the now busy road.