Karugangama bridge repairs get sh150m boost

Mbarara City Council has passed a resolution to allocate sh150 million to repair the Katete-Karugangama-Kanyeyite bridge, which was washed away by a flooded River Rwizi in 2023.

Residents, using their limited resources, improvised a temporary bridge, but it is now in a worrisome state and handling traffic beyond its capacity.

The Katete-Karugangama-Kanyeyite bridge connects Karugangama village with Mbarara City’s main town.

However, with the recent closure of the main Katete bridge, most traffic, including boda bodas, has diverted to the smaller Katete-Karugangama-Kanyeyite bridge.

Mbarara City speaker, Bonny Tashobya, revealed the resolution while addressing residents of Karugangama, who had camped at the bridge demanding urgent intervention to safeguard lives.

On the same day, residents also engaged in community development work on the Katete-Karugangama-Kanyeyite bridge, which is in a deplorable state.

“Council sat and passed sh150 million, which was the balance for the Katete main bridge. We decided to use this money for the Karugangama bridge so people can have a safe passage. The bridge is becoming weak and puts residents’ lives at risk,” Tashobya said.

He urged responsible authorities in the Mbarara City Council to expedite repairs and release the funds promptly to save lives.

Tashobya also highlighted other collapsed bridges, such as Kitobero crossing to Mbarara University, and called for additional funding to address these issues.

He emphasised the need for accountability for every coin released by the council to assist residents.

He appealed to council members to expedite the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) for Katete-Karugangama and ensure work begins quickly.

“This small bridge is getting weaker. Everyone is using it, and we risk losing lives. We shall be held accountable,” he added.

Tashobya thanked residents for their patience and urged the city council to assist locals in repairing impassable roads.

He commended residents for their initiative in carrying out community work, especially on roads.

He also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and security-conscious during the Christmas season, stressing that security begins with the community.

Providing updates on the sh366 million allocated for the Katete bridge, Tashobya said work is ongoing, with the bridge expected to reopen by early January.

He called on residents to remain patient, expressing confidence in the UPDF Engineering Brigade to complete the work on time.

Adam Mulindwa, a Karugangama resident, urged the city council to secure funds for improving the area’s roads, which he said are impassable.

Anyine Fred, the LC chairman of the area, highlighted that the village has three schools, and the poor road conditions have affected businesses.

Nalongo Annet, another resident, said they have made several appeals about bad roads, but no action has been taken.

David Mujuni, the defence officer for Karugangama village, noted that the area also faces challenges with a lack of electricity, which has increased insecurity.

Asiimwe Ntengye, another resident, suggested that the council allocate shs500,000 from the shs150 million budgeted for the Katete-Karugangama-Kanyeyite bridge to fix all the bad roads in the area.