Job Namanya | Tayari News
KAKUMIRO – The Minister of State for Transport, Fred Byamukama, has officially commissioned and handed over the 63-meter Kyenyonga-Kikaada Hybrid Trail Bridge, providing a vital lifeline for communities in Kakumiro District. The structure, which spans River Katerere, connects the sub-counties of Bwanswa and Kasambya, removing a long-standing barrier to trade and safety.
Speaking during the handover ceremony on Friday, Byamukama emphasized that the bridge is part of a strategic push to integrate hard-to-reach areas into the national economy.
Minister Byamukama linked the completion of the bridge directly to the success of the Parish Development Model (PDM), specifically Pillar Two, which focuses on infrastructure. He noted that while the government encourages households to move from subsistence to the money economy, such a transition is impossible without reliable connectivity.
“Production without access yields limited results. Farmers must transport their produce to markets, mothers must access health centers safely, and children must cross rivers without risking their lives to attend school,” Byamukama stated.
He further explained that for the villages of Kyenyonga, Kihurumba, and Kikaada, this bridge restores dignity and enhances productivity by ensuring social and economic participation remains uninterrupted.
The Kyenyonga-Kikaada Bridge is a result of a nine-year partnership between the Ministry of Works and Transport and Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), now operating as FIKA.
Byamukama revealed that this collaboration has delivered 34 trail bridges across Uganda, focusing on regions with mountainous terrain and deep river valleys, such as the Greater Mt. Elgon sub-region.
The project has also served as a training ground for the local private sector. According to the Minister, Ugandan firms have been trained to assessment, design, and maintain these structures, ensuring that the country builds internal capacity for future infrastructure needs.
Construction of the hybrid bridge began in April 2025 and was completed in October 2025.