Kampala – Transport is paralyzed along the Masaka-Villa Maria road following the collapse of the section of the road, which is serving as the alternative route for the Kampala-Masaka highway.
A section of the affected road is in a permanent swamp of Kitante junction, located about 14 kilometers from Masaka town towards Kalungu district sunk in on Friday morning, making it difficult for vehicles to cross to either side.
The affected road is used as the alternative route for passengers using the Kampala-Masaka highway after heavy flash floods swept away a bridge on River Katonga in Mpigi leading to the closure of the highway.
Several drivers of heavy truck vehicles are stranded in long queues on either side of the road after it was blocked by a cargo lorry that got stuck at the damaged spot.
Moses Mukabaliisa, one of the affected drivers says that his Fuso lorry, which is loaded with Matooke that was destined for Nakasero Market in Kampala, failed in the middle of the road before it sunk into the damaged section of the road.
According to Mukabaliisa, the road was not stable enough to support the movement of very heavy trucks that were diverted to it after the collapse of the Katonga Bridge.
He bemoans that they are currently stuck with their merchandise some of which is perishable, crying out to the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to hurriedly fix the road to restore traffic flow.
Madrine Kansiime, one of the affected traders says that she is stuck with close to 20 sacks of Irish potatoes that she was transporting to Kampala from Isingiro district. She says they have spent several hours on the road without moving which has already affected her business.
Kansiime has asked UNRA to expedite the process of fixing the River Katonda Bridge, to restore traffic on the main Kampala-Masaka highway, arguing that several other sections on the alternative route are also already weakened and can collapse anytime.
Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson said, the passengers will have to patiently wait for UNRA to fix the damaged part of the road.
He however indicates that their traffic personnel are also trying to figure out other alternative routes that can clear off the traffic until the road is restored.
On Tuesday, UNRA cleared the light passenger vehicles to resume using the Kampala-Masaka highway following the restoration of a part of Katanga bridge in Mpigi district, which had collapsed on May 11th.
Source:URN
