A team of engineers, drawn from various international construction firms, visited Karuma Bridge in northern Uganda to evaluate the extent of damage to this vital infrastructure. The visit was organized on Saturday, May 4, 2024, with the engineers escorted by MBW Consulting and UNRA engineers.
This assessment followed a travel advisory issued by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), announcing the temporary closure of the bridge to lorries, trailers, and buses starting from Monday, May 6. Only passenger vehicles carrying up to 28 passengers will be permitted to cross.
Works state minister Musa Ecweru, alongside UNRA engineers and officers from the Uganda Police and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), conducted a separate inspection of the bridge on Saturday. Their emergency evaluation aimed to identify signs of damage and determine appropriate mitigation measures.
David Tomusange, representing MBW Consulting, explained that their focus was on structural analysis to ascertain if the bridge could still support traffic. He highlighted concerns about worn-out bearings on the eastern side of the bridge, particularly as vehicles enter from Nwoya district towards Gulu.
Despite the inspection, a UNRA source, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions, raised questions about the practicality of the closure, citing the absence of a contracted repair team, detailed bridge designs, and cost estimates.
To address safety concerns, UNRA plans to regulate traffic over the bridge, potentially imposing speed limits and controlling the number of vehicles allowed to cross simultaneously.
The temporary closure of Karuma Bridge has sparked anxiety within the local business community. Hawkers, particularly women and youth in Karuma town council and Kamdini town, rely on passing trade for their livelihoods. Selling fruits, live chicken, roasted chicken, and honey along major highways, they fear losing customers if traffic is restricted.
Tom Zadok Okweda, a chicken vendor in Karuma town, expressed concerns about the financial impact, fearing he may struggle to send his children to school if business declines. Similarly, Grace Kwiyocwiny, a mother of five selling fruits along the route, faces an uncertain future if traffic disruptions persist.
