Over a month ago, a renowned senior driver, Mr Masisi Adubango, lost control of his vehicle and it overturned on Ayila Bridge in Nebbi District, killing him on the spot.
He is not an isolated case. Several drivers narrate harrowing tales of risking their lives to cross bridges that are in a dangerous state in Nebbi. One such driver is Mr Sam Olegmungu, who told the Daily Monitor on Monday that when it rains, most of the roads become slippery and impassable.
For several years, communities across Nebbi have relied on bridges under district roads to connect farmers to markets, children to schools and patients to health facilities.
Yet currently, the majority of the bridges have become death traps, with residents accusing authorities of neglect as worsening infrastructure continues to disrupt livelihoods and threaten lives.
Upon reaching the bridges that are narrow and with broken edges, drivers first let the passengers alight before crossing the bridge with a reduced load.
“Crossing these bridges is a matter of life and death. You have to be extra careful because if you make any mistake, you will find yourself in the river. These bridges like Ayila and Acodho have been in a dilapidated state for a long time and have not been repaired,” Mr Olegmungu said.
He said because of the bad spots, they spend more hours on the road and this is frustrating, and yet the government collects revenue from business communities.
“Patients referred from lower health facilities to either Angal or Nebbi Hospital do not reach in time because more time is spent dodging potholes on the road. That is why some die on the way or just after reaching,” Mr Olegmungu said.
The traders, boda boda riders and farmers said the poor state of bridges has increased transport costs, reduced business opportunities, and exposed road users to accidents, especially during the rainy season when rivers swell and wash away temporary crossings.
A regular traveller on the Nebbi road, Ms Night Akumu, said: “The road users aren’t losing their lives because of reckless riding and driving, but because the roads and bridges that are in bad condition.”
Ms Akumu added that some of the roads are so narrow that drivers struggle to balance their vehicles on the road when overtaking.
Dire situation
The situation has also affected small businesses that depend on the movement of goods between villages and trading centres. Shop owners decry delays in deliveries, while transport operators spend more money taking longer alternative routes.
Mr Joseph Ocen, a farmer in Parombo, said: “The buyers do not want to come to our village to buy goods. Those who come hit us with damages created by bad roads and bridges. So, we end up selling our produce cheaply.”
A snapshot tour of Nyaravur-Angal Town Council, Parombo, Akworo and Erussi sub-counties showed that most rural bridges that were constructed more than 30 years ago are now in ruins, have collapsed or lack guardrails.
According to the traders, during every rainy season, Ayila, Paceng and Akuru bridges on route to Parombo, and the Nebbi-Goli, Panyimur, and Urusi in Nebbi District, become impassable.
Mr Marks Okello, the Deputy Managing Director of Rock Global Oil Limited, said due to the bad state of Nyaravur-Parombo, they spend huge amounts on vehicle repairs every time.
“The bad roads also delay delivery of the goods, especially during rainy seasons when the trucks get stuck,” he said.
“The company has 28 trucks and each truck loaded with fuel pays revenue of Shs14 million and when the truck gets stuck on the muddy roads, the company makes losses,” Okello said.
### Authorities respond
The Nebbi District Engineer, Mr Jean Hendrew Okecha, acknowledged that the three bridges on the Angal-Arua-Parombo line were too narrow and were not built to handle heavy traffic, which has resulted in accidents and loss of lives.
He said three of the bridges on that road require about Shs3.5 billion to be fixed, which he said can be achieved when they are prioritised in the budget.
Mr Okecha added that through about 95 percent of the roads are fairly passable, the district remains with challenges of narrow and dilapidated bridges, which slow down business because trucks spend a lot of time on the roads.
“We have four bridges across the district which need urgent attention, but the district cannot do much because of funding inadequacies,” Mr Okecha said.
He said the district has 380km motorable roads and approximately 100km community access roads, adding that the meagre road funds of only Shs1.1 billion under Uganda Road Funds (URF) is stifling their efforts to undertake meaningful rehabilitation work.
The Nebbi District Chairperson, Mr George Ubelgiu, acknowledged that the bridges on Nyaravur-Angal-Parombo roads are narrow and dilapidated, with cracks on the beams and walls.
He said most of the bridges were not meant for trucks but they risk it because there are no alternative routes to reach the markets.
“The district is incapacitated to construct bridges since resources being received are limited. And the Shs1.1 billion is for road maintenance, not including the component of bridge construction,” Mr Ubelgiu said.
He added that out of 09 bridges which are earmarked for construction, each will cost the government Shs1.8 billion.
Local leaders say replacing bridges are essential for socio-economic growth, enabling access to markets, healthcare, education and other critical services.