MP Tonny Ayo Pushes for Gov`t to Prioritize Masindi Port Upgrades After Karuma Bridge Shutdown

Following the Karuma Bridge closure, Kwania County MP Tonny Ayo has raised concerns over the escalating transportation challenges at Apac-Masindi Port as travellers find alternative routes.

In his tweet via X he urged the government to take immediate steps to address these issues in a formal appeal to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Gen. Katumba Wamala, and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

To Rt. Hon. Prime Minister @R_Nabbanja, Hon. Minister of @MoWT_Uganda @GenWamala, and @UNRA_UG

I respectfully appeal for your immediate attention to address the pressing transportation challenges at Masindi Port . And the key areas that require urgent action are:…. pic.twitter.com/9fQvsGVE27

— Hon Tonny Ayoo MP Kwania (@AKwania) September 23, 2024

Among Hon. Ayo’s proposals is the construction of dual landing ramps on both sides of Masindi Port to facilitate smoother ferry operations, which have become strained due to increased traffic. He also recommended doubling the number of daily ferry trips from 30 to 60 per ferry to reduce congestion.

Additionally, Ayo called for an extension of ferry operating hours from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the hiring of more operators to work in shifts, thereby avoiding exhaustion among staff. He further stressed the need for road repairs along the narrow sections between the ferry and Rwekunye, as well as improvements to flooded sections in Oyam and Apac districts.

MP Ayo also highlighted the importance of accelerating the paving of the Apac-Alenga section to improve traffic flow, urging the government to prioritize the economic benefits of these transport enhancements.

All these follows the total closure of Karuma Bridge for three months, starting Monday, September 23rd, to facilitate its much-needed rehabilitation of the Bridge, a critical link connecting Northern Uganda to Kampala, was built in 1963 and has faced safety concerns for years, including the lack of pedestrian lanes and modern monitoring equipment.

The rehabilitation, which has been long overdue, is being handled by China Railway Seventh Group, with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) serving as subcontractors. The project is expected to cost approximately 7 billion shillings.

ENDS