New Bridge Construction at Katonga River to Begin in October

The Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, revealed that construction of a new bridge at the Katonga River along the Kampala-Masaka highway is set to begin in October this year.

This announcement came in response to a matter of national importance raised by Kashari North County Member of Parliament, Hon. Basil Bataringaya, during a plenary session on Tuesday, 23 July 2024.

Hon. Bataringaya expressed his concerns over the abandoned repairs on the existing bridge and urged the minister to provide specific dates for when the critical trade route would be fixed. He highlighted the inconvenience faced by traders due to the prolonged closure and detours.

“The Katonga bridge was swept away and closed for more than six months. Temporary measures were taken to repair this bridge, and traffic was channeled through the long Sembabule road which was inconveniencing to traders in terms of money and time,” Bataringaya said.

He proposed creating a shorter alternative route, specifically the Villa Maria-Kalungu-Masaka road, to ease the inconvenience for traders while the bridge is being reconstructed.

Gen. Katumba Wamala explained that the delay in constructing a new bridge was due to the need for a thorough study of the meteorological behaviors of the river, ensuring the new structure would be resilient and durable.

“We had to study the meteorological behaviors of that river so that we can make a new structure which is resilient and will stand the test of time. We could not rush into establishing more or less the same bridge which had been compromised,” he said.

He also mentioned that the contractor would address challenges within the Kalandazi and Lwera swamps to ensure the road meets the demands of truck volumes. The minister called for patience from road users along the Kampala-Masaka highway as the construction works progress.

“I want us to understand these structures are not simple structures to do. If we do a structure in a hurry, and it gives away in a few years, it will be this same House that will put us to task. This is a very sensitive structure and so it should be done with all the caution and detail it deserves,” Katumba Wamala emphasized.

In May 2023, the Katonga bridge was destroyed by flash floods, leading the government to create a diversion for heavy trucks to the Mpigi-Sembabule-Masaka road.