By Ronald Ocweo
As Uganda Christian University (UCU) reopens for its trinity semester, news of closure of the route through Karuma brings interesting observations to note.
Many students who attend this institution cross Karuma bridge on the Nile from the region of northern Uganda and Southern Sudan. Others cross the Nile at this spot to attend UCU’s West Nile campus in Arua from the southern regions.The university also has regular activities with its diocescan partners across the bridge.
News of the closure of Karuma bridge because of dangerous cracks in its dilapidated structure compels students to use alternative routes to access their different campuses of Arua, Mbale, Kampala, Kabale and the Main campus at Mukono.
UNRA is now undertaking the restoration of the old Karuma bridge structure which will take three (3) months as stated in their press release.
Travellers from West Nile are now required to pass via Luwero, Kafu, and Masindi through Paraa (Murchison Falls National Park) to connect to Pakwach or Gulu via Olwiyo and vice versa.
Student travellers from Lira are now required to use the eastern route passing through Soroti, Kumi, Pallisa, Tirinyi, Nakalama, and Iganga to and from Kampala.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, vehicles directed by UNRA will not be charged as done usually when crossing from Paraa to Pakwach.
However, travellers who choose to cross through Paraa will also be required to travel during the day to meet the 7 pm curfew guidelines of the park. In addition, they will be required to observe the 40km speed limit.
With all these abrupt changes, travellers will not only bear the consequences from their pockets but also take longer on their journey as they seek to connect with their various educational institutions and campuses
According to YY Coaches, one of the leading bus companies operating along eastern and northern Ugandan routes, the fares from Lira to Kampala will move to Shs.40,000 from the usual Shs. 30,000 due to its additional distance when compared to the usual Karuma route. In addition, fuel prices have recently hit a historic high which complements the new travel fares.
Other bus fares include Shs. 55,000 to Shs. 65,000 for travellers from Kampala to Moyo, Shs.50,000 to Shs.60,000 for travellers from Kampala to Adjumani. Other buses from Gulu to Kampala have increased fares from Shs.30,000 to Shs .40,000 and Kampala to Atiak will increase from Shs 40,000 to Shs. 50,000.
This new development also means that heavy trucks and lorries which normally use Karuma to connect goods and services between Kampala, Lira, Gulu and West Nile will have to use a longer route. This will lead to delays and increased costs of delivery of the goods which in turn hikes prices for certain commodities.
According to UNRA, the government of Uganda is currently fast-tracking the process to secure funding for the construction of a new bridge at Karuma as a long-term solution
This will support the old bridge that has served 50 years having been constructed in 1963.
