Transport disrupted as part of Uganda-Rwanda road collapses

By  THE EASTAFRICAN

What you need to know:

  • Uganda National Roads Authority executive director Allen Kagina on Saturday evening issued the suspension directive after the assessment of the damage.

  • Officials say the road which collapsed on Friday night and could have been caused by weather changes, especially heavy rains that caused landslides.

  • They also suspect the damage could have been caused by tectonic forces since the road is located in a volcanic area.

Transport between Uganda and Rwanda has been disrupted following the collapse of a road section linking the two countries.

The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) suspended traffic along the Katuna-Rwanda road after a section at Kyonyo, 3 kilometres to the Rwanda border, collapsed.

The damage has left hundreds of travellers stranded.

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RISKY

UNRA executive director Allen Kagina on Saturday evening issued the suspension directive after the assessment of the damage.

Ms Kagina and the Kabale District Police Commander, Mr Dickens Bindeeba, said the road remained risky for motorists.

“Right now, traffic along this road has been stopped. No motorised traffic on this road because it is not safe. Motorists are advised to use Ntungao-Mirama Hills-Kagitumba road. We are working with police to direct motorists to the alternative routes,” said Ms Kagina.

TECTONIC

She explained that the road collapsed on Friday night and could have been caused by weather changes, especially heavy rains that caused landslides.

But the UNRA regional manager South Western Benice Kiganda said the road collapsed on Friday night and could have been caused by weather changes, especially heavy rains that caused landslides.

“We are going to do more investigations and find out exactly what could be the cause, but we suspect tectonic forces since this is a volcanic area. Four more other sections, two on Kabale –Ntungamo road and Kabale-Katuna road are showing similar signs,” said Ms Kiganda.

Ms Kagina said they already have a team on the ground moving to fix the road.

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