BULAMBULI- The Minister of Works and Transport, Ms Monica Ntege Azuba, has ordered for the closure of Cheptui Bridge on the Muyembe- Nakapiripiriti Road in Bulambuli District, saying it’s dangerous for motorists and pedestrians.
“With immediate effect, this bridge will have to be closed from trucks and pedestrians until it’s fixed and as a ministry, we have to assure the public that this will be done as soon as possible,” Ms Ntege, said on Wednesday.
She was touring the area to assess the progress of roads and bridges under construction and those that have been destroyed by heavy rains in eastern Uganda.
Ms Ntege was accompanied by Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA)team headed by the executive director, Ms Alllen Kagina, and Members of Parliament on the physical infrastructure committee.
In March, four people died and several others injured at the bridge after a truck in which they were travelling, toppled in the river.
The truck, which was carrying merchandise and passengers, was heading to Nakapiripirit District.
The Minister said the closure is intended to avoid the re-occurrence of such fatal accidents.
“As government, we value the lives of our people. We don’t want this to happen again,” she said.
Ms Azuba, however, said UNRA will by next month begin the process of compensating people whose land has been used to create an alternative route.
Ms Kagina, said the bridge will be urgently repaired.
The team visited Tororo-Nangogera-Busolwe-Namutumba Road, Namunsi-Kapchorwa Road, Muyembe-Nakapiripirit Road, Moroto-Soroti Bumbobi- Lwakhakha Road and Nakapiripirit- Moroto Road.
Mr Mafabi Muniru, a resident of Bulweta village, in Bunambutye Sub-county said the bridge collapsed in 2007 but 11 years later, the the government has failed to repair it.
