EMERGENCY RESTORATION WORKS KICK OFF AT KARUMA BRIDGE
According to Ssempebwa, the destroyed rails had been replaced last week after another minor accident.
By Ronald Kundu
KIRYANDONGO: The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has today kicked off emergency restoration works on a section of the Karuma bridge that was destroyed by a truck that plunged into the river.
This was revealed by Allan Ssempebwa, the UNRA media relations manager. He said that they have deployed a team from their Masindi branch to restore the destroyed protective rails.
According to Ssempebwa, the destroyed rails had been replaced last week after another minor accident.
By last evening, they had deployed warning and safety signs on either side of the Karuma bridge to guide motorists.
He has advised motorists to be cautious while crossing the bridge, warning that the protective rails are not strong enough.
Ssempebwa, however, gives hope that they await a final government decision to construct a new and bigger bridge at Karuma.
The truck driver, identified as Tumusiime James, who was driving a SINO truck registration number UAT 113F, and two other occupants were all swept away, and efforts to retrieve the wreckage are still ongoing.
Karuma Bridge has been the focus of many minor accidents over the years, including one last week where a truck broke off the protective rails.
Area residents pray that the government constructs a standard bridge with strong protective rails to reduce the high number of accidents at the bridge.
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