Karuma bridge is reopened after 3-week closure

Karuma bridge has officially reopened to all traffic this morning following a three-week closure for essential maintenance works.

The 61-year-old bridge, a vital link connecting northern Uganda to the rest of the country, was temporarily closed on March 24 to allow for the installation of four expansion joints on the bridge deck.

The closure forced motorists to take longer detours through Murchison Falls National Park, eastern Uganda, and Masindi Port, causing significant travel disruptions and delays in the transportation of goods.

Allan Ssempebwa, communications officer at the ministry of Works and Transport, confirmed the reopening of the bridge after the successful completion of the maintenance works.

“Karuma Bridge is now ready to receive all traffic… The bridge has been fitted with reflective plates and street lights,” said Ssempebwa in a statement issued on Sunday.

According to the ministry, expansion joints are crucial components that enable the bridge to expand and contract in response to temperature changes and traffic loads, which helps maintain the structural integrity of the bridge and extend its lifespan as well.

Although the bridge is now open to all road users, the ministry noted that some minor works are still ongoing. These include the installation of guardrails, additional street lighting, river training works, installation of cat’s eyes, and painting of the structural plate girders beneath the bridge.

These activities are not expected to disrupt traffic. This is the second closure of the Karuma Bridge in less than a year. In September last year, the bridge was shut down after engineers identified major structural faults in the bridge deck, bearings, and expansion joints.

It was reopened on December 20 following three months of rehabilitation works that involved replacing the bridge deck and 12 bearings.

Looking ahead, the government has entered into an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the construction of a new Karuma Bridge. The project, which is expected to take 60 months, will cost approximately Shs 121 billion under a grant arrangement.

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