Nile Bridge: MPs summon UNRA over "shoddy work"
The parliamentary committee on Physical Infrastructure has summoned officials from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to explain allegations of shoddy works on the newly constructed Nile Bridge.
The bridge cost Shs 390 billion, 80% of which was a loan from Japan.
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It was commissioned by President Museveni last year.
However all the celebrations over the maginficeint structure may turn out to be premature after pictures emereged last week of cracks on the side of the bridge.
UNRA said it was replacing the asphalt and that it was part of routine maintenance but MPs have not been swayed.
Kafeero Ssekitooleko, the committee chairperson said they want to hear from the UNRA officials eactly what the problem is.
"We have been reading reports in the media and we want to hear from the officials from UNRA what happened to the new bridge," he said.
Luttamaguzi Ssemakula, the MP for Nakaseke South said the contractors need to be ashamed by the quality of work.
Rose Mutonyi, the MP for Bubulo West said: "We have been proud of our new baby and it has become a tourist attraction but I got surprised when I passed on that bridge and was welcomed by humps."
During the meeting, UNRA officials will be tasked to brief the MPs how the award of the contract was arrived at for the fifth longest cable bridge in Africa.
However, officials from UNRA still maintain that the newly constructed bridge is in good shape and it has a life span of 100 years.
