Motorists using the Kampala-Gulu highway face extended travel distances following the Ministry of Works and Transport’s announcement of the closure of Karuma Bridge for emergency repairs.
The ministry cited the need to install expansion joints, stating: “Karuma and Ayago bridges along the Kampala-Gulu Highway will be closed to traffic to allow for scheduled rehabilitation works, including the installation of expansion joints.”
This marks the second closure of Karuma Bridge to vehicles, pedestrians, and boda bodas, prompting local leaders and the business community to urge the government to expedite repairs. The latest closure comes just three months after the bridge was reopened, following a previous three-month-long renovation period.
In April 2024, the government temporarily restricted heavy vehicles from using Karuma Bridge after an assessment revealed significant structural defects, raising concerns about its stability. The National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and China Seventh Railway Group were contracted to undertake the repairs, initially scheduled for completion within three months. The renovation project, which cost approximately Shs 7.9 billion, caused major disruptions for travelers heading to northern Uganda and West Nile, forcing them to take detours through Masindi Port and Murchison Falls National Park.
Earlier today, Minister Ecweru announced plans to construct a new suspended bridge at Karuma Falls. The government, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is set to build a modern bridge over the River Nile, west of the existing structure, at an estimated cost of $100 million.
The original Karuma Bridge, built in 1963 one year after Uganda’s independence is a narrow, single-carriageway structure lacking pedestrian and bicycle lanes or monitoring equipment. Over the years, it has been the site of several major accidents, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.
