Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Denis Edema
Published on 2024-01-31 13:17:59
The opening of Saaka Bridge ahead of its scheduled commissioning in February has brought great excitement to the residents of Kaliro and Pallisa districts and other road users. The bridge, constructed at a cost of Shs76.5 billion on River Mpologoma Swamp, spans about 3.5kms and has an expected lifespan of 120 years. It was built with the primary aim of easing transport and improving social service delivery in both districts and the Sub-region.
Before the construction of the bridge, the only means of crossing from one side of the district to the other was by using a canoe, which posed significant risks, leading to the reported loss of at least 50 lives. The completion of the bridge is expected to have a significant impact on the socio-economic development of the beneficiary districts, providing easier access to markets for goods and boosting agricultural produce.
The bridge’s opening has been met with positive reactions from various individuals. Lawrence Onyu, a civil servant in Pallisa District, highlighted the potential for the bridge to facilitate smoother movement of people and goods, while a student in Kaliro District, Denis Isoba, expressed excitement at the completion of the project after previous failed attempts by construction firms. Catherine Akello, a businesswoman in Pallisa District, expressed relief at the prospect of using the bridge as a shortcut to transport her goods to Kampala.
The Mayor of Pallisa Town Council, Mr Yusuf Zomu, emphasized the significance of the bridge in connecting the Teso and Busoga Sub-regions to the rest of the world. According to Eng Paul Anguria, the Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA) Deputy Resident Engineer, the bridge’s completion will lead to a significant reduction in transport expenses and distances, cutting down the distance from Mbale-Tirinyi to Pallisa-Kaliro-Kampala by 60kms.
The construction of Saaka Bridge faced numerous challenges, with heavy rains and flooding posing significant obstacles to progress. However, the contractor, Arab Contractors, managed to complete the project in 18 months instead of the projected 60 months, despite challenges such as high inflation rates due to the Russia-Ukraine war and theft and vandalism of materials and machinery.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
