The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) announced the need for repairs on the River Kafu Bridge, submerged due to floods in Kyankwanzi District. The floods, caused by El Nino, not only disrupted transportation but also damaged buildings and destroyed crops.
Ms. Allen Kagina, the Executive Director of UNRA, cautioned motorists using the Hoima-Kyankwanzi-Kampala road to avoid it until the water recedes, allowing repairs to make the route accessible again. The affected area, Kikonda village in Kyankwanzi District, was inspected by Ms. Kagina and the UNRA team on Friday.
Ms. Kagina outlined two intervention measures for when the water decreases: immediate temporary repairs and a long-term solution, either raising the road or constructing a new bridge. Engineer Marcellino Rubahamya, the UNRA Western Uganda Regional Manager, emphasized plans for hydrological studies on the road for a lasting, permanent solution.
Motorists are advised to take alternative, longer routes such as the Hoima-Masindi-Kampala Road and the Hoima-Buhimba-Kakumiro-Mubende-Kampala Road, leading to increased transport fares.