Kampala, (UG):- The Minister of Works and Transport, Edward Katumba has confirmed that following months of repairs, Karuma Bridge will be opened to the public tomorrow, Friday, December 20th ahead of a busy festive period.
The reopening according to Gen Katumba will be officiated by his junior minister for Works, Hon Musa Ecweru, who is expected to outline essential travel guidelines during the ceremony.
Katumba made the pronouncement during the Prime Minister’s Question time in Parliament on Thursday, where he was asked to update the nation on the ongoing repairs along the Karuma bridge.
The bridge, he said, will be open to the public as early as 6:00 Am, although only buses and light vehicles will be allowed through the bridge as repairs for the heavy trucks continue.
“I am happy to inform Parliament that I promised that before Christmas, Karuma Bridge will be opened for people travelling in that direction to travel. Karuma will be open tomorrow by 6:00 am for light vehicles and buses as we finalize the repairs for the heavy tracks so bear with us,” said Katumba.
“We will start with buses and light vehicles tomorrow by 6 am, you can travel through Karuma Bridge,” he emphasized.
Karuma Bridge, an essential connection on the Kampala–Gulu highway, was fully closed to traffic on September 23, 2024, to facilitate critical repair works following the discovery of significant structural defects.
Before the complete closure, the bridge had been restricted to heavy vehicles in April 2024 due to safety concerns.
The defects, identified during an inspection by UNRA, included severe cracks and structural weaknesses that compromised the bridge’s integrity.
Now, with repairs in their advanced stages, the bridge’s reopening is expected to bring much-needed relief to thousands of travellers and businesses, restoring efficient transportation of goods and services across the region.
Constructed in 1963, the bridge had aged considerably, necessitating comprehensive repairs to restore its safety and functionality.
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