Sigh of relief as pedestrians start using River Katonga Bridge

The government yesterday allowed pedestrians to cross River Katonga Bridge on the Kampala-Masaka highway amid ongoing emergency restoration works.

This came after the contractor, China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) erected a temporary pedestrian crossing over the river.

Residents and travellers from Masaka and Kalungu districts have since May 11 been using engine-powered boats to cross River Katonga from the Masaka side to Mpigi.

The first group of pedestrians to use the temporary bridge were 100 pilgrims from Mbarara Archdiocese who got stranded at the bridge on Monday. They are trekking to Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine Namugongo in Wakiso District, ahead of the Martyrs’ Day celebrations slated for June 3.

According to Rev Fr Alfred Byarugaba, the leader of a stranded group from Kinkiizi in Kanungu District, they started walking on May 14, anticipating that a temporary bridge that the government had promised would be in place by the time they arrived at Katonga.  

“We have been sleeping on the tarmac and braving the cold at Katonga since Monday but we are happy that we can now continue with our spiritual journey to Namugongo,” the priest said.  

He said when they set off from Lukaya Town on Monday their next stopover was supposed to be Mitala –Maria Catholic Parish which is 11km ahead. 

But to their dismay, they were stopped by policemen manning the bridge.

Monitor has learnt that some pilgrims, who had money to spend, paid for a boat ride and crossed the river on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Mr Moses Kiyemba, one of the boat operators, they charged each pilgrim Shs3,000 for the 30-minute journey over the river compared to Shs 10,000 paid by other travellers.

“Theirs [pilgrims] is a spiritual journey and since we are also believers, we had to make life easy for them,” he said yesterday.

Mr Felix Atuhwere, a pilgrim from Isingiro District, said when they arrived in Masaka, they contemplated using the Sembabule-Gomba-Mpigi Road to connect to Kampala, but residents warned them that the road was narrow and risky for pedestrians.

“The situation here has been harsh. Being a wetland, it is cold all the time. There are no toilets and we have been visiting bushes to answer the nature’s call. We are very relieved that we are going to continue our journey. We are assured of sleeping in a church and accessing amenities such as toilets for the rest of the journey,” he said yesterday.  

Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) insists the current temporary crossing at River Katonga Bridge is strictly for foot pilgrims heading to Namugongo.

“The emergency pedestrian crossing is for only pilgrims coming from Masaka to Kampala and will be available even on their return journey after Martyrs Day. Other pedestrians will be considered after about two weeks when the contractor has erected another temporary bridge which can also be used by boda bodas and light vehicles,” Unra spokesperson Allan Ssempebwa said yesterday.

He said allowing all pedestrians to use the temporary crossing will jeopardise the ongoing works. 
Works and Transport Minister, Gen Katumba Wamala, while in Masaka City on Wednesday assured pilgrims that they would be able to use the bridge by Thursday (yesterday). 

The minister, however, asked motorists to be patient with them as they work around the clock to ensure that traffic along the bridge returns to normalcy. 

According to Gen Wamala, the contractor is going to make a new design for the bridge which may take a longer period than anticipated.

The government had earlier given assurance that the bridge restoration works could last between two to three weeks.

“We are going to get a new design because part of the bridge completely got damaged by the floods. We shall put a diversion at the bridge for motorists to use as we embark on building a strong bridge that can stand the test of time,” he said.

Adding: “Since this is an infrastructure, it is difficult now to give a timeframe when a new permanent bridge will be ready.”

An engineer, working with Unra who preferred anonymity to speak freely about the project, told Monitor yesterday that the general civil works at Katonga are likely to take between 12 months to 18 months.

Workers of the contractor were yesterday seen removing debris from the river, erecting gabion walls and embankments, and installing guard rails at the damaged section. 

Flash floods
The Kampala-Masaka highway was closed on May 11 following flash floods that destroyed the River Katonga Bridge, forcing motorists to use Mpigi-Butambala-Gomba-Sembabule –Bukomansimbi –Villa Maria-Nyendo-Masaka Road, which is 56km longer.

A shorter route, which motorists from Masaka could use through the districts of Kalungu ,Gomba and connect to Mpigi  , is also currently impassable after culverts on the Villa-Maria –Kabulasoke Road over River Katonga were also washed away on May 13.

Compiled by Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa , Gertrude Mutyaba & Brian A Kesiima