Travellers along the Mbarara- Kasese road will have to find alternative routes following news that Kazinga Channel Bridge has been damaged.
The bridge connects Ishaka-Katunguru road to Kasese, over the 32 kilometer wide Kazinga Channel, with several taxis, buses, heavy trucks and tourist vans crossing the bridge daily.
The channel connects lakes George and Edward and is among the several tourist attractions in the area including the Queen Elizabeth National Park.
According to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) the bridge would be closed to traffic with immediate effect as remedial works follow.
#TrafficAlert: Kazinga Channel Bridge along Ishaka-Katunguru road is current unusable by heavy truck and buses following damage to the bridge deck. More details to follow on planned works and diversion routes. We are working with Uganda Police to guide traffic at the moment,” Unra said in a statement.
According to Mark Ssali, the Head of Public and Corporate Affairs at UNRA, the extent of the damage and how long the repairs would take is still being assessed by the engineers.
A source says bus and taxi passengers are dropped either side on the bridge, cross on foot and then board another taxi on the other end. This is because the alternate Kamwenge route is longer.
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