Celebrations as Kadaga Commissions Ojonai Bridge, Valley Dam in Amuria

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs in Uganda Rt Hon. Dr. Alitwala Rebecca Kadaga has commissioned Ojonai Bridge and a Valley dam in Apedur Sub county In Amuria District.

The bridge and valley dam constructed by M/S SAED Technical Services Ltd with the funding from the ministry of works and transport at a tune of 1.9 billion shillings, will connect various areas to Amuria and provide water for the animals and domestic use for the locals respectively.

Speaking at the commissioning, Kadaga pledged to engage government about the area problems including modernizing farming in Amuria district and Teso sub region as whole.

Kadaga, who also doubles as Kamuli Woman Member of Parliament pledged to follow up on the presidential pledges to the people of Amuria which include upgrading of Soroti-Amuria road and a health centers.

The event was attended by area residents, MPs from Amuria, District leaders, Security and civil servants among other stakeholders.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Works And Transport on behalf of the ministry appreciated all the individuals and parties who in various ways contributed to the successful implementation of this bridge project.

‘’The reconstructed Dam, which receives water from nine streams in the Awoja water catchment provide will provide water for production to the local population and therefore provide a means of livelihood. The Bridge provides access for users from Soroti to the Grad-A weekly market at Akoromit Sub-county in Kapelebyong District. It also connect to the road from Amuria to Asamuk in Katakwi District, ultimately to the road from Soroti to Moroto District’’, he said.

Since its completion, the Bridge has served its intended purpose of controlling floods and providing safe passage during heavy rainfall, which used to regularly cut off connectivity between areas of Ayola and Apeduru from Asamuk Health Center (III).

The works for the bridge were tendered out and a local contractor was contracted to carry out the construction at a cost of UGX 1,943,404,540 andthe scope of works included: Construction of a Triple cell Box culvert (3m*3m), Construction of relief culverts (53m), Construction of gravel approach roads (500m either side), River training and protection works including erosion protection of embankments and Re-construction of the dilapidated dam (100,000m3).

Similarly, the Dam which was originally built in 1942 by the Colonial Native Administration, a local Government then had since failed over the years and was rendered dysfunctional. As a result, the local community lost their livestock due to lack of water during the dry seasons.