Oulanyah directs gov’t on repair of bridges

Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has directed the Ministry of Works to expedite repair of critical bridges washed away by floods.
The directive was a result of matters of national importance raised by MPs, Hon. Moses Aleper (NRM, Chekwii County, Kadam) and Hon. Jesica Ababiku (NRM, Adjumai district) over the deplorable state of bridges in their constituencies during plenary sitting on 29 September 2021.
Oulanyah then directed the State for Works, Musa Ecweru to ensure that the technical teams go to the affected areas and start on the repairs.
“The matter was raised two weeks ago; we do not want you to come to the House, we want you to fix the bridge. Send your people there. Coming to the House is not helpful if people are not traveling,” he said.
Aleper said that whilst he raised the matter on 12 September 2021 over the condition of Muyembe-Nakapiripirit bridge, no action has been taken to fix the bridge.
“The Government Chief Whip promised that there would be a response from government on 22 September but there was nothing. I wrote a letter to the Minister of Works and I am surprised nothing has been done,” Aleper said.

He added that as a result of the fallen bridge, three districts including Nakapirirpit, Nabilatuk and Amudat are cut off from Eastern Uganda.
“The plight of the people is very deplorable because these people are dependent on the trade traffic from Mbale and there is a looming famine. People of Chekwii and Nakapririt are now wondering if they are part of this country because government is not doing anything,” he said.
Ababiku also cited the state of Iragi bridge in Adjumani which she said has disconnected people of Adjumani from Pakeletuk-Pabo.  
“The people in those areas have been totally cut off and this has been the case for a year. The bridge has now become a death trap,” she said.
Ecweru assured the House that the connection between Namalu in Karamoja and the rest of the country is being worked on.  
“Uganda National Roads Authority should have started works already because they were given the directive three days ago,” he said.
He added that a meeting has been scheduled between MPs, leadership of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces and the local leadership of Karamoja to discuss the way forward.