Choose Gov’t that Delivers! Museveni Commissions Isimba Public Bridge as Kadaga Calls for Peace Amid General Elections

Kayunga – The speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga has urged the public to remain calm as the nation prepares to dive into the highly anticipated 2021 General Elections.

This follows a growing fear among Ugandans that the electoral period will be littered with tension and clashed in selected areas.

While addressing the press in Kayunga, Speaker Kadaga re-echoed the needs for peace in the country as Ugandans turn-up on polling day to votes.

Regards of what is going around, I urge Ugandans to exercise their constitutional right peacefully. I also call upon leaders to educate their votes against meddling in electoral violence and actions that will sabotage the elections” said Kadaga.

The shrewd speaker also dismissed claims that she was under pressure from her opponent in the hotly contested Kamuli Municipality Woman Member of Parliament race. Kadaga – who is running on the NRM party ticket – is set to face-off with Opposition’s Forum for Democratic Change’s Proscovia Salamu Musumba.

“It is an easy win for me. What is a tight race?! There is no tight race,” said Rt. Hon. Kadaga in a veiled ‘jab’ at Salaamu for not standing a chance at the political office.

On a subsequent occasion, President Yoweri Museveni commissioned the 430Meter section Bridge adjacent to the Isimba Dam.

The bridge, according to leaders in Kamuli and Kayunga districts, is anticipated to boost trade in the two districts and reduce transport costs since it provides a shorter alternative route from Kampala to eastern region.

The Isimba public bridge was successfully completed in December 2020 after undergoing a comprehensive performance tests by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA)

“Previously, one had to brave the Kampala-Jinja road jostle to connect to Kamuli Districts; with movement of goods and people taking close to 7 hours. With the Isimba bridge, traders and buyers will be able to connect to the Kayunga-Gayaza-Kampala route easily cutting the time by half,” said Badru Kiggundu, the chairman of the Project Steering Committee of the Karuma and Isimba Hydro Power projects.

The State Minister of Energy, Simon D’Ujanga revealed that the commissioning of the bridge had immediate economic impact in the districts.

The completion of this bridge is going to have an immediate impact in the region since Kamuli and Kayunga shall be linked thereby providing alternative and shorter connectivity between Kayunga, Kamuli, Jinja and Kampala,” said Hon. D’Ujanga.

He added: “Currently, about 90 percent of the traffic destined from Kampala to Kamuli goes through Jinja while about 10 percent goes through Kayunga. With the opening of the bridge, the majority of this traffic is expected to use this route.”

President Museveni, while addressing the officials after the commission, commended the people of Busaana community, the Ugandan technical team and the contractors for fast-tracking the project whilst providing lands, labour, and security.

“I thank the people of Busaana that offered their land while others made the compensation & related matters easier for the project. We have not heard issues of materials being stolen by the locals – like the case has been with other projects,” said a delighted Museveni.

He, however, re-echoed the NRM government’s focus on improving the livelihood of Uganda whilst creating mediums such as infrastructure, roads, water transport (ferry), security, among others.

“I challenge the people to support the NRM that has delivered what other government – over the years – failed to do. We have delivered and now it is your turn to do your job,” said Museveni tasking Ugandans to rally behind him.

It comprises two bridges, with one measuring 433 meters to the left for the Victoria Nile and the other 457 meters to the right, both linked by a road at Koova. The combined length of the two sections make 890meters making Isimba Bridge the second-longest in Uganda.

Inaugurated in August 2019, the Isimba Bridge was constructed by China International Water & Electric Corp. (CWE) and funded by a loan from the Chinese EXIM Bank.