By eastafrican gazette
Due to the partial closure of Karuma Falls Bridge, heavy trucks and passenger vehicles carrying more than 28 passengers traveling to and from Gulu and Kampala will have to use the available alternative routes.
The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has announced that starting from May 06, 2024, the bridge will be inaccessible to all lorries, trailers, and buses for a period of three months.
This action was taken after a thorough evaluation of the bridge’s condition which revealed deterioration in the concrete deck on the Kampala approach lane.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/UNRA.jpg)
UNRA noted that allowing heavy traffic to continue using the bridge could further hasten its deterioration and compromise its functionality.
“Only passenger vehicles carrying up to 28 passengers will be allowed to use the bridge. We anticipate that this intervention will be complete in three months,” read the authority’s advisory.
The road also connects to South Sudan
They advised all motorists from Kampala to Gulu and West Nile to use Luwero-Kafu-Masindi-Paraa (Marchison Falls National Park) to connect to Pakwach or Gulu via Olwiyo and vise versa to motorists heading to Kampala from the same destinations.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/karuma-Falls-Bridge.jpg)
Those heading to Lira are advised to use Iganga-Nakalama-Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi-Soroti-Lira and vice versa.
The existing bridge, which was built about 60 years ago to facilitate the transportation of diverse agricultural produce from the Northern Region, also lacks a dedicated pedestrian or bicycle lanes.
UNRA says the government is fast tracking the process to secure funding for the reconstruction of the new bridge at Karuma as a long term solution.