The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, has announced the closure of Karuma Bridge to all traffic, effective Monday, September 23rd, 2024.
The closure is to allow for the demolition of the bridge’s concrete deck and subsequent major restoration works, which are expected to last for three months.
The Karuma Bridge, which serves as a critical link between Kampala and Northern Uganda, will undergo significant repairs to address structural issues.
Karuma Bridge was temporarily closed in April this year after engineers found crucial components of the bridge among them the bearings, and the expansion joints had worn out and developed cracks.
According to Gen Katumba, the rehabilitation works will also see new safety features such as much stronger guard rails installed and the provision of better lighting at night.
He says already there are concerns about the economic impact of the bridge closure but notes that leaving it open would even be more disadvantageous to the lives of its users.
Gen. Katumba says the government in its bid to ease transport in the alternative route has added another ferry at Masindi port to ease movements of vehicles through the Kiryandongo, Apac, and Lira routes.
Meanwhile motorists and passengers intending to travel to and outside Northern Uganda and West Nile sub regions will use the Murchison Falls National Park route, the eastern route through Lango Sub region and Masindi Port.
The government targets the bridge will be open to traffic by the second week of December this year after the contractor has finished the works.
