By Abubakar Bin Siraji
MBALE
Residents of Mbale are concerned about the state of bridges in the area following the Tuesday 21st November, 2023 rains and flooding that not only paralysed the area but resulted in the loss of life.
More than 5 bridges were washed away when rivers Nabanyole, Nambale, Ndokhwe, and Namarare burst their banks after a 5-hour downpour. They include Busano – Buyango, Muzigiti-Shangwe bridges in Busano sub county, Nambale and Ndokhwe bridges in Bungokho Sub County.
In the aftermath, area residents improvised with wood and timber to enable pedestrians and riders to cross the bridges. But now, they say that the bridges have become a threat to their own lives and many farmers, who have gardens to cultivate ‘across the bridges,’ are no longer able to do so, according to Moses Wandega, a resident of Buyango village, Busano Sub County.
Watsebekwa Hakim, a motorcyclist who uses the bridges says the bridges are deadly traps to their hustle. He says the bridges had lasted for long and when flooding occurred, they couldn’t resist water force.
Karim Muliro, a resident of Nabijo cell in Busano sub county says that the Muzigiti – shangwe bridge was in a sorry state even before the rains started early this year, adding that although the community tried to fix it with timber, it has increasingly become dangerous and impassable.
The Mbale District LC 5 Chairman, Muhammad Mafabi confirms that the bridges are in a terrible state, but adds that the authorities are currently mobilising finances to ensure that the bridges are fixed soon.
