Residents in Nyabani Sub County, Kitagwenda district, are concerned about the condition of Mpanga Bridge.They want the bridge that connects Kitagwenda and Kamwenge districts through Nyabbani and Rwenjaza sub-counties to be refurbished.
Some of the residents interviewed by URN say they fear using the bridge, which is flooded following a heavy downpour. Daphine Ampaire, Ismail Kato, and John Hakiza, all residents of the area, say the bridge is often covered by floods whenever it rains.
Boda boda riders say that it is also hard for them to get passengers to Kamwenge whenever the water level rises.
Kitagwenda District Engineer Andrew Baguma told URN that the bridge is on a road under the jurisdiction of UNRA. He says that the affected bridge was built in the late 1950s, has outlived its lifespan, and has developed a lot of cracks.
Ladislus Tumukunde, the Nyabani sub-county LC 3 chairperson, says that the bridge developed cracks a long time ago, and they reported its sorry condition to the area members of parliament for redress.
Kitagwenda district woman member of parliament, Dorothy Nyakato Nzibonera, says that as area members of parliament, they have already raised the issue of the bridge before parliament and they are still following the matter.
Kitagwenda Resident District Commissioner, Longino Bahebwa, has asked people, especially those with heavy vehicles, to stop using the bridge in order to save lives.