Karuma bridge closure affecting businesses

Kiryandongo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The business community in Arua have asked the Uganda Wild Life Authority and the Uganda National Roads Authority to address the issue of charging travellers passing through Murchison Falls National Park, saying it is affecting their business.

Last month, the Minister of Works and Transport, Katumba Wamala, announced the full closure of Karuma Bridge, which is a major route for travellers from West Nile, Acholi, and Lango Sub-regions.

This follows reports that the bridge, which was built in 1962, had developed major defects in its deck, bearings, and joints having exceeded its expiry date 12 years ago.

With the closure of the bridge, the traffic from West Nile and other parts of northern Uganda has been diverted, with the majority of travellers passing through Murchison Falls National Park, which has come with more travel costs as each passenger is charged 25,000 Shillings to pass through the park, in addition to the transport fare.

In a press statement read by Doreen Tiatia, a member of Onzivu Women Cooperative, the women argued that the fees levied on passengers to pass through the park are exorbitant and discriminative.

They also argued that the extra charges on transport mean they are paying more in taxes, compared to their counterparts in other parts of the country.

The statement came two days, after legislators from the West Nile sub-region, led by Geoffrey Feta, the Member of Parliament for Ayivu East Division, also Chairperson of the West Nile Parliamentary Caucus wrote to the Prime Minister complaining over the same issue.

In their statement, the MPs noted that the alternative route through Kafu -Masindi Town -Kinyara Town, Biso Town down to The Albertine Rift Valley in Bulisa District to access the National Park through Bugungu gate in the western part of the National Park has led to increased cost of transport for people and goods by about 35 percent.

This they said, has led to increased cost of commodity prices because the road is long, insecure, and impassable in some parts.

The West Nile Parliamentary Caucus appealed to the government to Intervene to address the plight of travellers from northern Uganda, because the increase in transport cost is likely to hurt the economy in West Nile and other parts of Northern Uganda.

“This may lead to increased influx of smuggled goods in the markets in West Nile, depriving government of revenue,” reads part of the statement.

Izama Adinan, a dealer in General Merchandise at Arua Modern Market, said the closure of Karuma Bridge has already led to an increase in the price of essential commodities.

Adinan revealed that a 25-kilogram sack of Kinyara sugar which was at shillings 68,000, is now sold at shillings 88,000. The price of 20 litres of cooking oil which was shillings 110,000, has increased to 132-135,000, while the price of a sack of rice has gone up by shillings 10,000. A carton of salt which was shillings 18,000 is now at shillings 26,000.

He explained that sales have gone low because of the increased price of commodities, and is afraid that businesses will collapse because they are incurring expenses in rents and revenue amid slow business.

Last week, legislators from northern Uganda protested the 25,000 Shillings levied on each traveller passing through Murchison Falls National Park and demanded that it should be scrapped.

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