Ageing Karuma Bridge to be replaced

Plans to replace Karuma Bridge are underway with construction expected to commence once funds are available, Prime Minister Nabbanja has said.

Nabbanja informed MPs during plenary that the replacement of Karuma Bridge has been prioritised by the Government of Uganda and will be undertaken once the financing arrangements are completed.

“Government of Uganda contacted the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on the possibility of partnering in the delivery of this key infrastructure. JICA agreed to consider partnering on the replacement and are currently undertaking a design process which is expected to be completed in the financial year 2024/25 and construction is expected to commence in financial year 2025/26,” Nabbanja told Parliament.

She was responding to concerns raised by MP Phionah Nyamutoro (National Female Youth Representative) on the recent information about the Government's plan on the replacement and upgrading of Karuma Bridge which is one of the critical gateways to Northern Uganda.

“Can the Prime Minister update the House on the status of the replacement or upgrade of the Karuma Bridge?” Nyamutoro

Karuma Bridge is located 270 km north of Kampala on the main Kampala-Gulu highway. The bridge is the main connection between the northern and southern regions of Uganda and is managed by the Ministry of Works and Transport.

The existing bridge was constructed in 1964 and is insufficient to accommodate the increased levels of traffic on the road. The bridge has also been the scene of several accidents in the recent past.

Nabbanja said the Government of Uganda recognised the challenges posed by the existing bridge and prioritised its replacement in the NDPIII period.

Plans are underway to construct another modern bridge 500 meters downstream of the current Karuma Bridge. The bridge was earlier this month closed for a number of hours to allow technical consultants conduct detailed inspections of the bridge and assess the current condition and remaining lifespan of the bridge.

She said once completed, the new bridge will provide a reliable link between the northern and southern regions and is expected to aid the development of the priority sectors of tourism, culture, oil and gas and industrialisation.

She told the MPs that the Ministry of Works and Transport is currently carrying out an engineering assessment of the old bridge to ascertain the remaining life and also determine its load carrying capacity considering ever increasing traffic volume despite old age.

“The output from the study shall guide government on the approach for short term interventions on the bridge during the construction of the replacement. The report is expected in May 2024,” she said.