Summary:

• The Kampala-Jinja highway is under threat from a encroaching swamp, raising concerns about potential collapse and traffic disruption, with MP Dr Timothy Batuwa criticizing UNRA’s response and emphasizing the road’s critical role in Uganda’s economy.

The Kampala-Jinja highway is facing a serious threat from a significant swamp flowing beneath it in Najjembe Sub-county, Buikwe District, a short distance after Lugazi Municipality. Concerns have arisen that the ongoing heavy rains in the country could lead to its collapse, disrupting traffic on a vital route crucial to Uganda’s economy.

Jinja North East MP, Dr Timothy Batuwa, raised alarm last week, criticizing the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the Ministry of Works for their perceived lack of action. Dr Batuwa emphasized the road’s importance as Uganda’s primary link to the east and the port of Mombasa, handling 95 percent of the country’s imports and exports.

The Kampala-Jinja highway, a segment of the Trans-African highway, serves as a crucial connection to the Mombasa port for landlocked nations like Burundi and Rwanda. Additionally, it plays a vital role in providing a sea link for the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

An on-site visit revealed the swamp encroaching on the road’s surface without adequate guard rails. Concrete barriers, likely serving as warnings, have been placed at the affected section. Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe, UNRA’s media relations manager, assured that a contractor is already handling the road’s maintenance, emphasizing a work plan for swift resolution.

In September, UNRA identified the Kampala-Jinja highway as one of two roads scheduled for rehabilitation in the 2022/2023 financial year. However, Dr Batuwa expressed dissatisfaction with the progress and UNRA’s response, questioning their monitoring capabilities. Mr Ssempebwa defended UNRA, citing 23 road maintenance stations actively monitoring and intervening when needed.

With concerns about the highway’s stability, the Mukono-Kyetume-Kisoga-Njeru route remains the sole alternative to the east if the road collapses. This comes at a time when the Mukono-Kayunga-Jinja route was closed to heavy traffic due to surface defects on the Ssezibwa Bridge. UNRA is currently in the procurement process to identify a contractor for building a new bridge on that route.

Additional Report by Monitor