Concerns have been raised over the damaged Saaka Swamp Crossing that connects the Districts of Kaliro and Pallisa. The crossing was damaged and made impassable by the recent floods that the country experienced over the last few months. Unfortunately, some lives were lost when a vehicle fell into the swamp waters on 22 February 2020.

The heavy rains that the country experienced last year seriously affected and caused damage on this 3.6 km swamp crossing. These rains were quite unprecedented and are as a result of climate change, which is now a worldwide phenomenon.
It is worth noting that this swamp lies downstream of the Tirinyi Swamp on the Nakalama-Tirinyi-Mbale Highway; a swamp that is crossed by the River Mpologoma, whose catchment area includes the Mt. Elgon area.

The damage to the swamp crossing was not only caused by the heavy flood waters but was aggravated by the many papyrus suds that were carried by the torrents of flood waters. These covered and blocked the culverts causing the water levels to raise and subsequently overtop the road embankment across the swamp. The fast-flowing waters then rapidly washed out the gravel material and subsequently washed away the culverts particularly at the locations where the Mpologoma waters traverse the swamp.

Saaka swamp crossing was constructed by the Ministry of Works and Transport largely using the Force Account Modality.
The swamp crossing was opened to traffic about 2 years ago. Despite having commenced in 2011, these swamp crossing works experienced delays mainly due to budget constraints.

In view of the above, the Ministry is planning for interventions to restore connectivity as soon as water levels reduce. It is anticipated to undertake short term interventions as plans are made for more permanent ones, due to the high costs associated with the latter as provision has to be made for enhanced hydraulic capacity to accommodate the high flood waters, while at the same time ensuring that the bridge or drainage structure has sufficient strength to withstand the hydraulic pressure exerted by the fast moving waters of River Mpologoma. A span bridge and some box culverts are envisaged and the costs for these are high, so an appropriate budget will be required.

During the time that heavy rains were being experienced, the Ministry advised the Road Administrations to ensure that the public was made aware of any disruptions and also carry out emergency interventions at critical locations, where road infrastructure was damaged.

In the case of Saaka swamp the Districts of Kaliro and Pallisa were duly informed. As restitution was not possible at the time, the public was informed that the swamp was impassable. Notices were placed before the swamp to this effect; as well as some stone boulders had been placed across the road.

Unfortunately, on 22 February 2020, a driver ignored advice from the local community not to proceed along this road and even circumvented the stone boulders that had been placed across the road and very regrettably ended up falling into the waters.
To avoid the repeat of such disastrous incidents, murram stacks were immediately dumped across the road on both approaches, so that a vehicle cannot at all be able to proceed to the damaged section of the swamp crossing.

The Ministry is having a challenge with restoring connectivity over many crossings that suffered damage due to the recent heavy rains. The Ministry has compiled submissions made by the various Road Administrations and come up with the cost estimates; which have been submitted to higher authorities. Unfortunately, to date no funds have been allocated towards addressing these failures on the road infrastructure due to budget constraints.

As far as Saaka swamp crossing is concerned, its intervention is being prioritised by the Ministry as soon as water levels go down and funds are secured.
The loss of lives however, is very regrettable and all District Local Governments are urged to erect barriers and also continuously monitor their road networks where the road infrastructure has been damaged rendering them impassable/too dangerous to traverse.

The Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998 (Amendment) Act, 2020 was launched on Thursday 28th May at the Ministry of Transport and Works.

Speaking at its launch, the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala said the new law will help reduce chaos but also hold reckless road users culpable for their acts and misbehavior.

“The act provides for a demerit point system where points are attached to the driving license. The points can be deducted if the holder is convicted of certain traffic offenses prescribed under regulations,” the Minister said.

According to the law assented to by President Museveni on May 22, 2020, drivers will have opportunity to upgrade licenses without going back to driving schools and receive licenses with longer validity.

The amendment also introduced among other things driving licenses with a 5 year validity, demerit points that could lead to loss of a driving license among a reckless drivers and garage and repair facilities to be registered.

The law will also see registration of garages and tech-based transport service providers such as safe Boda and uber.

“Transport network providers using online digital platforms such as Uber, Bolt, Safe Boda shall be licensed and regulated to ensure that they are safe, secure, are efficient and that they comply with their tax obligations,” Gen.Katumba Wamala said.

All drivers will also be required to complete all vehicle transfers to avoid future complications in case vehicles they sold are involved in any criminal incidents.

Peter Lokeris, the State Minister of Works led a technical team including the Engineer in Chief, Samson Bagonza on a two-day tour of the flood ravaged areas of Kasese. The region experienced insurmountable damage to both infrastructure and livelihoods when the rivers of Nyamwamba, Lhubiriha. Nyamugasani and Mubuku burst their banks.

The damages included the Mpondwe Lhubiriha bridge that links Uganda to DRC, Isango bridge along Kithoma-Kiraro road, the Nyamugasani lower bridge along Rwentare-Katwe-Katojo road. The Kasese-Kilembe road and Kyanjuku Bridge were also washed away.

The Kilembe Mines Hospital as well as the Kilembe mines machine shops and offices were also severely damaged, the roads leading to and from the mines and the communities are all covered in boulders.

The Ministry is working with the Local Authorities and Uganda National Roads Authority to spearhead emergency action and mitigation measures. Clearing the boulders to pave way for traffic and to find lasting solutions to river management in the region.

Multi-stakeholder efforts are underway to formulate long term River Management strategies. In the meantime, the Ministry has provided more heavy-duty machinery to clear the boulders, the Force Account Division has been sent in to assess the damages in the hard to reach areas. The team, along with the District heads will spearhead emergency action and mitigation measures.

Equipment to open up the drainage systems which have been clogged with debris and silt have also been dispatched.

Corporate Social Responsibility efforts by a range of stakeholders has been received by the District heads, Mota Engil, the contractor for Katungulu-Ishaka road pledged to carry out an assessment and intervene accordingly.

The Honorable Minister concluded the tour by remarking that there is a great need to study the trends and causes of the rivers floods in order to effectively find lasting solutions.

The great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful.