Kanungu- Residents of Nyamirama, Matanda, Kihihi sub-counties all in Kanungu district are up in arms against district authorities for failure to renovate Matanda – Kihihi Bridge.
The bridge is located along Nyamirama, Matanda, Kihihi road and it connects the three sub- counties to Kihihi town council all in Kanungu district.
Locals argue that the bridge was destroyed by floods which resulted from heavy rains which hit the area about 2 weeks ago and nothing has been done since.
The locals told daily monitor that the collapse of this bridge has blocked motor vehicles from using the road and it has rendered them to usage of long routes to access Kihihi town council which is their business center.
Mr Dan Turyamwijuka, one of the affected residents of Kyiruruma Cell, Nyamirama sub- county said the collapse and destruction of this bridge by floods has greatly affected their lives most especially in accessing medical care services at Matanda health center 3.
‘’ Due to the collapse of this bridge we are now forced to carry sick people on our backs to cross to Matanda Health Centre III for treatment which is very risky during these days when the water levels are high. It is from this point that I want to request our leaders at the district to urgently look into our issue and work on our bridge as soon as possible’’. Mr Turyamwijuka said.
Mr Wilson Agaba, a concerned resident said the collapse of the bridge has left them suffering.
‘’Some energetic men have turned the collapse of this bridge into a source of income by charging between shillings 2000-5000 per person to carry people across the bridge’’ Mr Agaba said.
Mr Agaba wants the district leaders to support them with the material and put up a temporary bridge as they wait for the construction of a strong permanent bridge.
Mr Arineitwe Moses, a boda boda rider wonders why the district is silent about the problem.
‘’ Our leaders are aware of this bridge, when it got destroyed for the first time we informed them and they kept quiet and now the bridge is no more. Enough is enough, let them explain to us and we chart away forward instead of remaining silent about our problems yet we voted for them for such services ’’. Mr Arineitwe said.
The LC1 chairperson of Kyiruruma cell in Rushaka cell Matenda sub-county Mr Katabagwa Festo said “the culvert pipes on one side of this bridge were washed away about 3 months ago , and now floods which were brought by heavy rains that hit our area two weeks ago completely destroyed the bridge ‘’.
He now wants the gov’t to urgently work on this bridge install stronger culverts which will not be easily washed away by waters.‘’ This bridge is the one that links us to Matanda health centre III for medical care services and as of now we are just cut off from such services. Am therefore asking the government to urgently address this issue before the situation gets out of human control ’’. Mr Festo said.
Mr Henry Twinomugisha, another affected resident and a boda boda raider said the destroyed bridge is a shortcut to Kihihi Sub-county from Matanda and Nyamirama sub-counties , even for people from Bwambara Sub-county in Rukungiri District.
‘’ The situation is not good at all and it becomes more challenging at night because we are forced to use longer alternative routes to access our neighborhoods ’’ .Mr Twinmugisha said.
The Nyamirama sub-county LC3 Chairperson, Mr Gad Kabagambe said his office is very aware about the collapse and destruction of bridge.
‘’ As sub-county we are aware and very much know that people are for sure suffering because some people who attempt to use the road risk falling into the water. We informed our leaders at the district and they promised to address our issue in this ending 2026/2027 financial year’’. Mr Kabagambe said.
Mr Kabagambe added that ‘’ this is emergency issue and it is therefore requiring immediate government intervention because this very route ( bridge) is being used by school-going children and it’s collapse puts their lives at a great ris’’.
The Kanungu district chairperson, Eng. Sam Kajojo, said the district is aware of the deteriorating state of the bridge after it was washed away by heavy rains.
‘’ We are in communication with the Ministry of Works and Transport to secure urgent intervention and resources to restore the bridge to function adding that they have also allocated about UGX 20 million had been allocated in the 2026/2027 financial year to work on this bridge though it may be insufficient, given the extent of the damage and the manpower required’’. Eng Kajojo said.
He however calls for calm saying that they are in negotiations with the officials at ministry of works and transport to help them construct a modern and stronger bridge which cannot be easily washed away by floods.
