Jinja’s Owen Falls bridge cracks

This is a huge news story. If this bridge were to collapse the country's economy would tank. It's the only way to cross the Nile for Uganda and it's the preferred route for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to get coastal access to Kenya's seaport. The link will take you to an aerial picture of the dam and bridge so you can get an idea for the geography. We crossed this bridge twice during our last trip. Just a few miles away is the famous Ling Ling restaurant. -------------------------------------------------------
Monitor Online News
May 7, 2008

Jinja’s Owen Falls bridge cracks

Yasiin Mugerwa & Emmanuel Gyezaho

The 54-year-old Nile Bridge at the Owen Falls Dam in Jinja has developed serious cracks and is on the verge of breaking, an occurrence that only spells doom for a land locked country that heavily depends on its functioning to survive.

To save Uganda’s import and export trade, the government is now desperately looking for about Shs9 billion (5,379,557.681 USD) to keep the bridge working, at least for the next five years. However, it claims only Shs5billion (2,988,500.28592 USD) is available in next financial year’s budget.
“This bridge should be a priority in the next budget because of its importance,” said Mr Byanyima, who also doubles as the chairperson of the Physical Infrastructure Committee. “Finance says there is no money but what if a terrible catastrophe happens to the only bridge we have, what would happen to the country?” he asked.

In an interview with Daily Monitor yesterday, the State Minister for Works, Mr John Byabagambi, confirmed the MPs’ fear, suggesting that the bridge is effectively on its deathbed. “I am not a prophet of doom, but the current bridge cannot last for more than five years,” he said. “It has grown old and has developed various cracks.”

The Nile Bridge, supported by the Owen Falls Dam and built in 1954, is the only road link across River Nile on the eastern route, and as such, is essential to the region’s transportation network. Other land locked countries; Rwanda, Burundi, and the DR Congo, also use this bridge as a link to the coast through eastern Uganda.

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