Residents call off demonstration over bridge

The protest had been planned for today but was abandoned after Cheptui Bridge was repaired.

Residents of Cheptui Village in Bunambutye Sub-county, Bulambuli District have called off a planned demonstration over a broken bridge.

This was after a team of officials from the Uganda National Roads Authority fixed the bridge.
Cheptui Bridge had developed a large and deep pothole in the middle and residents, citing possible accidents at the facility, had threatened to protest today.

“If the government and the district authorities had not rushed to repair the bridge, we were going to stage a demonstration here and any government vehicle would not pass here,” said Mr Peter Matovu, a resident.
Mr Matovu said if the bridge collapsed, it would cut them off from other areas, especially markets for their produce and would thus affect their income.
“Although our household income is still poor, it would have worsened if this bridge collapsed because we would be cut off completely from doing business with the Karimojong,” he said.

Mr Abdullah Siraji, who claimed to be the village chairperson, said he was not ready to interfere with the residents’ demonstration because it was their right to have better roads.

The Resident District Commissioner, Mr Simon Peter Wamoto, confirmed the bridge had been worked on but said they needed better roads in order to improve the services.
“Yes the bridge which had developed a big pothole has been fixed but that’s not enough because we need a road,” he said.

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