Govt earmarks Shs500b to fix broken bridges

Mbale.

Fixing broken bridges and roads across the country will cost taxpayers more than Shs500 billion. This was revealed by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) boss, Ms Allen Kagina. She was in Mbale yesterday to assess the effects of floods on the road network.
Addressing journalists in Mbale Town, Ms Kagina acknowledged that the torrential rain being experienced in several parts of the country has caused floods, which have damaged bridges and roads.
“We plan to spend more than Shs500b to fix the roads that have been badly damaged by the floods due to the heavy rains we have been experiencing,” Ms Kagina, said.
The roads that have been cut off due to floods in eastern region include Muyembe-Nakapiripirit-Moroto, Mbale-Tirinyi, Mbale-Butaleja, Soroti-Moroto, Lotome-Lorengdwat road and Matany-Kangolechini road in Karamoja Sub-region, among others.
Western region had four major roads cut off, including Kyegegwa-Hapuyo-Kibale, Kamwenge-Dura-Rwimi, Karugutu-Ntoroko, and Bukuku-Rubona.
In Southern region, the affected roads are; Kabale-Katuna, Kabale-Kisoro, Katuna-Rubaya-Muko, Kisoro-Nyabwishenya-Nteko, Rubuguri-Katojo, Katojo-Kihihi, Rutobo-Kamwezi, Kabale-Kisoro, Butobere-Muyumbu-Rwamucucu and Hamurwa-Kerere-Kanungu.
The Director of roads and bridges, Mr Samuel Muhoozi, said the authority will construct new bridges, which are expected to last for more than 100 years compared to the old bridges that were swept away.