SIMPSON
The office of the Rujumbura Constituency Member of Parliament, who is also the Minister for Security, Hon. Jim Muhwezi, in partnership with Rukungiri District authorities, launched the construction of the Rwendahi Bridge on Friday.
This vital bridge connects Kigaaga Ward and Nyakinengo Parish along the Rukungiri-Kanungu Road via Birara Bridge. The project is estimated to cost UGX 10 million.
This initiative follows numerous appeals from residents who have faced significant challenges transporting goods and services due to the bridge’s destruction by heavy rains.
During the launch, Isaac Kaharuza, Hon. Jim Muhwezi’s political assistant who represented him at the event, expressed appreciation for the residents’ efforts in attempting to renovate the bridge and for their patience despite the hardships. He announced that construction work would commence immediately on January 11, 2025, to facilitate easier transportation and communication in the area.
Kaharuza also urged residents to embrace community service and take responsibility for maintaining local roads, adding that the government would continue to assist in improving other roads. He encouraged residents to inform their leaders promptly about infrastructural problems to enable timely interventions. He assured the community that efforts would be made to repair all poorly maintained roads in the constituency.
Geoffrey Kyomukama, the chairperson of LC5 Rukungiri, noted that the district has identified 28 bridges requiring attention, 18 of which have already been repaired. He explained that due to limited funds, bridge renovations are done in phases. However, the heavy rains that destroyed Rwendahi Bridge necessitated immediate action.
He confirmed that construction work on the bridge would start on January 11, 2025, to restore transportation and communication in the affected areas.
Area residents welcomed the initiative, highlighting that the bridge’s poor condition had made business operations impossible for a long time. They commended Hon. Jim Muhwezi and Geoffrey Kyomukama for their intervention. Residents also requested their leaders to address other pressing issues such as water shortages, lack of electricity, and improving road networks.
Benon Karamuriza, the LC1 Chairperson of Nyampikye Cell, explained that while residents had engaged in community work to maintain the road, they were unable to repair the bridge due to a lack of culverts. He expressed gratitude to the area MP and the district chairperson for prioritizing the bridge, as its poor condition had disrupted business with neighboring areas, particularly Kanungu.
