BUSINESSES BOOM IN MASINDI TOWN AFTER CLOSURE OF KARUMA BRIDGE

By Moses Andama
in Masindi—-

Following temporally closure of Karuma Bridge, a section of businesses along Masindi – Kigumba road and Masindi – Port Road are registering improved income.
Benard Mweruuka, chapatti seller operating at Pakanyi trading centre along Masindi – Kigumba road explains that currently chapatti is on demand compared to before channelling of the vehicles from Gulu – Kampala Highway to via Murchison Falls National Park.

Contrary to Mweruuka, Ayebale Medinah, a business operator at Kisanja Trading Centre, a junction to Paraa Road stresses that vehicles mostly buses are not making stopovers in their centre thus not earning anything from the diversion.

Bashir Umar, a boda boda rider staging at Wigo Wigo stage in Kyatiri town council, along Masindi – Kigumba road stressed that they were expecting to get clients from the bus unfortunately they are not making stopovers in their centre apart from Link Bus which has an office.
Cue in… Bashir on busses Lug
Similarly, Fred Isingoma asked the drivers of the buses to make stopovers to enable them also sell their goods to the passengers.

Emmanuel Wanguich, the Chairman Boda boda riders in Kyatiri Town Council said they were expecting to reap from buses but there expectations have been cut short since buses aren’t making stopovers.

John Kisarach, the Masindi district councillor representing Kyatiri town council said that some business operators have started tapping into the opportunity by hawking to passengers.

Nathan Kiiza, the Supervisor Link Bus Services Masindi, decried the number of clients has reduced since there are not clients in clients in the national park, and limited time since some buses have schedule and move at night contrary to park guidelines were buses are not allowed to access the park beyond 7pm.

He appealed to the ministry of transport to speed the works at Karuma Bridge since they are incurring expenses at fuelling the buses.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi LCV Chairman said that apparently the business in Masindi town is booming since some passengers spend the night within the town.
He therefore appealed to the business operators in the town to use the opportunity to increase on their income.