Pakwach Leaders Call For Construction Of New Bridge Across Albert Nile
The Pakwach bridge which is said to have outlived its purpose. Photo Credit_ Andrew Cohen Amvesi
PAKWACH. The local leaders of Pakwach district have called for the construction of a new bridge across the Albert Nile to replace the already dilapidated Pakwach bridge.
The leaders expressed fear of possible collapse of Pakwach bridge if the government of Uganda doesn’t expedite the process of constructing a new bridge.
Speaking to journalists in a recent interview, Robert Omito Steen, the Pakwach district chairperson, said Pakwach bridge which was built in early 1960s has now outlived its usefulness.
“The bridge is even collapsing; the reason is very simple, there are already cracks all over within the pillars. I’m happy two weeks ago, we received the Parliamentary members sitting on the committee of works, they evidenced it and saw it,” Omito said.
He added that: “The floating water weeds that come in large numbers are blocking the water path, giving a very narrow path for the large volume of water because the river keeps flowing. At that extent, we realized that there was too much drift; that the strength of water is in excess that it is now forcing the soil next to the bridge to keep collapsing. And the soil in my observation, the texture is very soft-collapsible soil and so, all the two ends are now becoming weak and loose.”
Omito said the worry now is the holding at the extreme ends which are already threatening the weight of the bridge sitting on the pillars.
“That is why the force being exerted with vibration as heavy trucks pass, is the one that is now creating a lot of cracks on the pillars. So, I can guarantee that this bridge is a very big risk now,” Omito stated.
He said the lifespan of the bridge before any other repairs could be done, was 50 years, noting that it has now exceeded far behind like almost ten years since it was constructed during Dr. Milton Obote’s regime in the 1960s.
“This Pakwach bridge is surviving on borrowed years. My government (the NRM government) had indicated in the 2021 campaign manifesto that there will be a new art of design and architecture of a very new bridge to be constructed in Pakwach but up to now nothing has been done,” Omito said.
“So, we want the government to put a new Pakwach bridge even when the government is planning to construct bridges at Laropi or where ever the other side, all these bridges should be those type of bridges that can allow free navigation of water vessels through the Nile to boost business up to Europe,” Omito appealed.
Similarly, Twaibu Acile, the Pakwach Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC), said there is a need for another bridge at Pakwach.
“Well aware that the government thought that – that bridge has outlived its purpose, the government is trying to put in plan to construct another new bridge at Pakwach,” said Acile.
He, however, observed that the government has committed itself to construct the Laropi bridge that connects Moyo and Adjumani.
Acile said they are quite sure that after constructing the Laropi bridge, Pakwach will get another new bridge.
When contacted on phone, Eng. Lawrence Pariyo, the Head of Bridges and Structures at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), without giving details, simply confirmed that a new bridge will be constructed at Pakwach.