Mpuuga asks UNRA to provide temporary bridge at Katonga

By Francis Lubega

15^th May 2023

The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has been challenged by the Leader of opposition in parliament also Nyendo Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga to set up a temporary bridge at Katonga river along Kampala-Masaka road to enable traffic flow.

The river Katonga section of the 134.23 km, or 83.41 miles, of the Kampala – Masaka road was closed to both motorists and pedestrians after water overflow caused the collapse of the bridge last week.

Mpuuga says with the diverse technology, UNRA should be in position to provide a temporary bridge to allow a controlled flow of traffic with the help of traffic police for easy accessibility and support of the economy.

Apparently motorists use Mpigi-Ggomba-Maddu-Ssembabule road to access Masaka and other destinations a distance that is over 190 kilometers and forced the transport fares to shot up from the usual 12,000 shillings to 45,000 or 50,000 shillings for one to move from Masaka to Kampala.

Mpuuga has reminded the government through NEMA to consider the impact assessment report produced by the 10^th parliamentary on the effects of rice growing and sand mining in the Lwera area said to be the cause of this environmental problem.

The opposition National Economy Dialogue (NEED) President Joseph Kabuleta has used their weekly press briefing to condemn the government for allowing investors to destroy the wetlands including Lwera areas that has caused water overflow and collapse of Katonga river hampering transport along Kampala – Masaka Road.

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