The Kampala-Hoima highway faces a severe disruption as the River Kafu overflowed, submerging the crucial Kafu Bridge connecting Hoima and Kyankwanzi districts. This incident marks the third bridge to be submerged within a week, following Kanangaro and Mpongo Bridges, both connecting the districts of Kyankwanzi and Kakumiro.
Motorists traveling from Kampala are encountering diversions, forced to take alternative routes to reach their destinations. They can opt for the Kampala-Luweero-Kafu-Masindi-Hoima route or the Kampala-Mubende-Kakumiro-Nalweyo-Buhimba-Hoima route. Others are using the Kampala-Kiboga route and then branching off at Masodde Town Council to follow the murram road to Ntwentwe, Gayaza, and connect to Kakumiro District.
The flooding of the Kafu Bridge has brought transport along the Kampala-Kiboga-Kyankwanzi-Hoima highway to a standstill. This critical route has been paralyzed, with no vehicles able to cross the submerged bridge, as witnessed when two trucks traveling from Kampala to Hoima became stranded in the rapidly flowing water. This occurrence took place at approximately 2 pm on Monday.
Kyankwanzi Resident District Commissioner, Ms. Sharon Ankunda, reported that the Kafu Bridge has been entirely washed away, rendering any crossing impossible. She stated, “Some two trucks are stuck in the water – one is loaded with cement and another one carrying maize. We deployed traffic police to prevent motorists and pedestrians from using that damaged section of the road.”
As a result of the Kafu Bridge’s submersion, travelers are urged to plan their journeys carefully and consider the available alternative routes while authorities work to assess and address the impact of this significant disruption on the Kampala-Hoima highway.