Locals Task West Nile Leaders to Demand Government on 1.5km Kiakia Bridge Construction

The spot where Kiakia bridge is to be constructed on River Nile and Enyau swampsto link Arua Yumbe and Moyo districts in West Nile region

Locals Task West Nile Leaders to Demand Government on 1.5km Kiakia Bridge Construction

By Robert Ariaka

Arua April 27, 2016

The construction of Kiakia Bridge which links the three districts of Arua Yumbe and Moyo to Juba in South Sudan is raising concerns as the local residents in the area are challenging their leaders to demand government to construct the Bridge.

Kiakia Bridge which is expected to cost 3.4 billion shillings was budgeted in 2011/12 financial year for construction but to date it has not been implemented. Kiakia bridge which is one and half kilometer is located on a point where river Eyau joins River Nile.

For one to access the two sub counties of Rigbo and the contentious Ewanga in Arua, the person has to cross via river Nile on a motor boat at a cost of 10,000 shillings while the alternative route is for one to travel from Arua via Yumbe to reach Ewanga which is 120 km at a cost of 15,000 shillings.

Once the bridge is constructed, it will link the three districts of Arua Yumbe and Moyo. Patricia Oyerua resident of Rigbo sub county a dealer in fish business says once you buy fish, it becomes difficult to transport them from Ewanga to Arua since they have to first use water transport to cross from Ewanga to Rigbo using a motor boat on river Nile before joining road to connect to Arua town.

She says the absence of the bridge makes business people suffer in transporting their fish to Arua where the biggest market is found. According to Oyeru, if the bridge is built, it wills easy movement via Rigbo to Ewanga, Yumbe and Obongi in Moyo district.

Faima Letiru the female councilor elect for Ewanga and Rigbo sub counties to Arua district says the swamp from River Enyau has divided the two sub counties and it was already planned for construction.

She says once the bridge is constructed, it will solve the issue of accessing the two sub counties since both Arua and Yumbe have faced challenges in extending support in terms of service delivery.

Cue in: “Ewanga has a big challenge”

Cue out…. “From Arua district”

Letiru says once she assumes office, she will ensure that Arua district local government follows up the matter with central government where Uganda National Roads Authority will responsible for the construction of the bridge.

Night Odaru, from Ewanga who is also a fish dealer says, road transport is in accessible since they roads are bad and they have to access water transport on river Nile to access Rigbo.

According to Odaru, when they want to cross from Rigbo to Ewanga or Obongi, they sometimes wait for hours as they wait for a boat to cross the river.

She says, once the Kiakia Bridge is constructed and maintains the road connecting Arua to Yumbe via Rigbo and Ewanga, transpot costs will be cheap compared to the long route from Arua to Yumbe.

Cue in: “Kiakia Bridge”

Cue out… “Means of transport”

Ogama Ali Ismaial, the MP elect for Lower Madi Okollo County where the bridge is located says he will ensure government takes the bridge for construction to avoid the long distance of traveling to Yumbe to access Ewanga Sub County.

The MP for Obongi County Hassan Kaps Fungaroo says as leaders affected by the absence of the bridge, government needs to prioritize construction of Kiakia Bridge to ease road access from Arua to Yumbe and Moyo direct to Juba in South Sudan.

“Kiakia Bridge is a project government should take into consideration since it easily connects to South Sudan” Fungarro said. He says, the people living along the river Nile belts are mostly surviving on fish business and for government to gain more revenue from the fish industry; access road and bridges need to be constructed to boost economic activities.

Fungaroo says, his is a worker and needs results regardless of party differences and appeals to the ruling government leaders to unite for a common development. Fungaroo says, the way forward to lobby Kiakia Bridge is to ensure all the MPs need to unite regardless of party differences. He says West Nile leaders fight themselves and forget fighting for development.

Simon Ejua, the former minister for transport says, the bridge has been on budget, but the money was not remitted. He says, the issue of the bridge was already considered and needs to be followed up by leaders to ensure the bridge is constructed.

End.