Masindi residents call for government intervention as Tantara Bridge claims lives
“We need value for money. This bridge must be constructed. We’re appealing for a serious intervention,” he emphasized.
Masindi: Residents of Kiruli and Pakanyi sub-counties in Buruli County, Masindi District, are pleading with the government to urgently reconstruct Tantara Bridge, which connects the two sub-counties but has become a death trap since it was washed away by floods five years ago.
The collapsed bridge has reportedly claimed the lives of eight residents who attempted to cross the river, prompting renewed calls for immediate government action.
Geoffrey Byarimana, a resident of Alimugonza Village, stressed that only strong, able-bodied men can currently risk crossing the river, leaving children, women, and elderly residents stranded.
“Children and women cannot cross this river even weak men can’t. We are suffering. Our people are dying. We need the government to intervene,” Byarimana said.
Stella Driciru, a mother of six, lamented that her children have stopped attending school due to the danger posed by the collapsed bridge.
“My children are no longer going to school. We can’t even cross to get food for our families. This is too much suffering,” she told ugreports.co.ug.
Geoffrey Kiiza Bigabwa, the District Councillor representing Kiruli Sub-county and Secretary for Production, confirmed that although the government had allocated funds for the reconstruction of the bridge, no work has commenced.
“It’s true our people are suffering. Despite government funds being allocated, nothing has been done. The bridge has been commissioned three times, yet no single construction activity has started,” Bigabwa said.
He added that residents are missing out on essential government services such as education and healthcare due to their inability to cross the river safely. He appealed to the Office of the President and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate and ensure accountability.
“We need value for money. This bridge must be constructed. We’re appealing for a serious intervention,” he emphasized.
Alfred Ocen, the Masindi District Engineer, explained that the Ibaralibi–Alimugonza road, which includes the Tantara Bridge, was earmarked for reconstruction under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project (ACDP).
However, the project stalled due to the complexity and high cost of the bridge reconstruction. “The bridge requires around UGX 4 billion. As a district, we don’t have that kind of budget. A contractor was identified by the Agriculture Ministry, but the scope of the work was too large. No work has started,” Ocen said.
He added that while a section of the road is being rehabilitated using limited district funds, the bridge remains untouched. Ocen reiterated the need for central government intervention to address the crisis.
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