Established in 1963, Karuma Bridge was constructed to help farmers in northern Uganda to cross the River Nile and ferry their cotton to Nyanza textile mills in Jinja district via Kampala for processing. Before the bridge was built, people crossed over to either side using a make shift bridge made of tree logs that was very slippery as water kept splashing on it.
But since the bridge was installed, it has claimed the lives of several motorists over the time and the area has become a site for several major accidents.
The bridge is narrow, one carriageway without pedestrian or bicycle lanes and no monitoring equipment.
Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) in 2017 launched a bid to re-construct the old fashioned bridge but UNRA and the proposed funders, a Japanese company, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) did not come out on the final conclusion on who to fund the construction.
As of October 2020, according to New Vision newspaper, the government of Japan through JICA, was evaluating the possibility of funding the construction of the New Karuma Bridge.
The proposed new bridge is expected to reduce accident levels as it will include a suspended cable bridge, with bicycle/motocycle lanes. According to reports, feasibility studies and technical designs for the bridge has been concluded.
Locals say the old bridge has become a black spot and something needs to be done to secure lives of motorists and bridges.
Past Accidents on Karuma Bridge.
On 24th April 2021, a speeding fuel tanker truck registration number UAS 337M which was coming from Gulu failed to brake and lost control ramming into the bridge and plunged into the fast moving falls.
On March 1, 2021, a Fuso fighter lorry registration number UAT 574V loaded with soap from a factory in Lira survived plunging into River Nile at Karuma Bridge when it lost control and hot the rails of the bridge and overturned. Fortunately the driver and turn man were rescued by Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers who were patrolling over the bridge.
In April 2018, a Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter lorry registration number UAL 891D loaded with over ten tons of maize grain from Bweyale in Kiryandongo district plunged into the river near Karuma Bridge.
In June 2018, a Fuso lorry registration number UAS 994Y carrying palm tree logs from Lira to Masindi, with two occupants lost control and plunged into River Nile at Karuma Bridge.
In 2017, a truck carrying cassava from Paidha town in Nebbi district heading to Hoima district plunging into the water killing three people.
In February 2017, a cargo truck UAP 513S from Democratic Republic Congo plunged into Karuma but fortunately the occupant, Nelson Eric survived the nasty accident.
In 2007, a Nebbi bound tipper lorry registration number UAE 037D carrying 12 people, lost control and plunged into the fall. One person died while 11 people jumped off and sustained severe injuries
In 2000, a gateway bus plunged into the River Nile at the same spot and killed atleast 11 people.
Karuma bridge, which borders Kiryandongo, Oyam and Nwoya districts has taken the lives of more ten people in the couple years; without a trace of their bodies, according authorities.
Locals say because of the sharp bent coming to the bridge, many drivers have lost control and plunged into the river.
