Hundreds of travellers were left stranded at Laropi Landing Site in Moyo District and Omi Landing Site in Adjumani District after the Laropi Ferry developed a mechanical fault following routine maintenance, disrupting transport across the River Nile.
The disruption, which started on Friday, affected passengers travelling in both directions, forcing many to spend several hours waiting at the landing sites. Others opted to divert to the Obongi Ferry in search of alternative transport.
The Laropi Ferry is a crucial transport link in the Ma’di Sub-region, connecting Moyo and Adjumani districts and serving travellers heading to Kampala, West Nile and neighbouring South Sudan.
The ferry transports more than 2,000 passengers, over 150 vehicles and about 200 motorcycles daily, making it a key gateway for trade, public transport, humanitarian operations, and the movement of goods and services.
A Ministry of Works and Transport official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said a ministry maintenance team conducted scheduled servicing of the ferry on Friday between midday and 5:00 p.m.
“The maintenance exercise required the ferry to temporarily suspend operations, resulting in congestion at both landing sites. After the servicing, the ferry resumed operations and was working normally until about 9:00 p.m., when the engine and gearbox developed mechanical problems, forcing us to suspend services again,” the official said.
The official added that engineers returned on Saturday morning to repair the fault.
“Our team returned to the ferry at about 8:00 a.m. to fix the mechanical problem, and we expect the repairs to be completed before midday so that operations can resume,” the source said.
The breakdown left many travellers frustrated as they struggled to proceed with their journeys.
Rose Eimani, who was travelling from Moyo Town Council to Kampala for business, said repeated ferry breakdowns continue to inconvenience residents and businesses in the region.
“It is frustrating because you plan your journey only to spend hours waiting for the ferry. Government has taken too long to construct the Laropi Bridge, yet this is a vital crossing point for thousands of people every day,” Eimani said.
Some travellers abandoned the queues and opted to use the Obongi Ferry, while others remained stranded, hoping the Laropi Ferry would resume operations.
When contacted by phone, Ministry of Works and Transport spokesperson Allan Ssempebwa said he had not yet received information about the disruption.
“I am not aware, but let me call the team on the ground and revert,” Ssempebwa said.
He had not provided feedback by the time this story was filed.
Moyo District Woman Member of Parliament Bernadette Chandia Kodili said she would seek an explanation from the Ministry of Works and Transport over the recurring mechanical failures affecting the ferry.
“I will engage officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport to establish the cause of these recurring breakdowns and raise the matter on the floor of Parliament so that the relevant stakeholders can address it,” Chandia said.
The latest disruption has renewed calls from leaders, residents and the business community in the Ma’di Sub-region for the government to fast-track construction of the long-awaited Laropi Bridge.
Stakeholders argue that while the ferry has served the region for years, frequent breakdowns continue to disrupt trade, delay emergency services, affect humanitarian operations, increase transport costs and inconvenience thousands of travellers who rely on the River Nile crossing daily.
