Tororo MPs give UNRA ultimatum to fix bridge

A section of Members of Parliament from Tororo district have given the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) two weeks to resumes works on Rubongi bridge.

The legislators say UNRA either finds another contractor to complete the construction of the bridge or pay the current contractor to return to the site.

The legislators allege that the bridge is at the verge of collapsing yet it connects two key institutions of army barracks and hospital.

The bridge that acts as a border between the municipality and the district was awarded to China railways in the Financial Year 2021/22.

Months later, the contractor abandoned the works due to failure by the government to pay up.

In the district roads committee meeting held at the council chambers to review road works, leaders expressed disappointments with the contractor for abandoning the site.

"This was a contract that was awarded and the contractor reported on site and even began work but was never paid. Where is the money for paying a contractor?" queried Molly Cheria, secretary for works.

According to the leaders, the contractor left work after the government failing to honour his payment for the contract.

"For any unpaid contract, the government ends up paying lots of costs. So, we have a problem that we need to resolve to avoid government from making losses," Sarah Opendi, the woman MP, said.

Since the bridge was abandone, Tororo local government has tried to reach out to relevant authorities to fix the infrastructure but in vain.

"I have tried to negotiate with UNRA to allow the district fuel graders and fix the bad part of the bridge but was told the contractor can take us to court," John Okea, the district chairperson, said.

The legislators have now given the roads authority a two weeks to fix the bridge or they close their offices in the district.

"The other day a bridge broke in Masaka-Mbarara, immediately UNRA team intervened. So, if ministry of works can't act within two weeks, We close the UNRA office," Mr Geoffrey Ekanya, Tororo North MP said.

Besides connecting the two districts of Tororo and Butaleja, the bridge also connects Rubongi barracks to Tororo town.