TRAVELERS DECRY, DELAY CONGESTION AT MASINDI PORT FERRY

By Moses Andama.

In Kiryandongo……………….

www.mknewslink.com

Sandra Amaali an old woman from Gulu district says travelling from the Northern Uganda to central and Bunyoro regions has become a hurdle since the closure of Karuma bridge which was permanently closed on the September 23, 2024.

Amaali, who was stranded at Masindi Port ferry on Sunday said that crossing River Nile through Masindi Port ferry is taking them four hours or more because of the many vehicles in the queue.

” since the bridge was closed we are facing a lot of challenges as far as movement is concerned. I have been here for more than four hours but accessing the ferry is a hurdle. We are spending a lot of time here and our businesses are dying,” she explained.

Davis Balunada who normally uses Gulu high way to Juba explained to Mk News Link com that commuting to Juba and Kampala has become a hurdle, adding that they are spending a lot of time at the ferry because of the many vehicles and the people.

“The two Ferries being used are too small to accommodate many vehicles at once. You have to wait until the one on other side comes back. Our prayer to government is to deploy a bigger ferry which can carry many vehicles, the luggage and the people at once because what we are facing is intolerable,” he appealed.

Steven Aliguma who was going to Apac district said he had spent six hours waiting for the ferry very hungry and tired.

“I have spent here four hours waiting. We request government to bring a bigger ferry which can take at least 15 vehicles or bring more Ferries because we are suffering a lot and we are no longer productive now,” he added.

Nakalema Maimuuna explained that she left Elegu at 7:00 am but they reached Masindi port at 4:00 PM and yet by that they would be in Kampala.

She added that the transport fares have been increased specifically from Elegu to Kampala, adding that from Elegu transport fees have been increased from sh80,00 to sh100,000.

Musa Kagwa, the chairperson Elegu driver’s association told Mknewslink.com that the inconveniences caused and also the bad state of alternative roads have compelled them to increase the fares.

Our reporter managed to visit Masindi Port ferry and he found hundreds of small vehicles stranded in the queue waiting to be allowed to access the ferry by Police and other security operatives.

Two Ferries deployed 

There are two Ferries deployed on the ground one on the side of Kiryandongo and the other one the side of Apac district.

“We have two Ferries and we just alternate. When this one reaches there other one comes back,” a Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) official who is not authorized to speak to the media said.

The water weed is also sometimes interrupting the ferry’s movement. Sometimes disturbing the ferry to land.

Vehicles are released in bits to avoid too much congestion and also to avoid commotion at the ferry,” said a police officer who declined to be named.

Security has also been intensified to ensure that people are safe. Uniformed and non-uniformed men were seen on the ground by our reporter.

“The challenge we have most is the jam. The ordinary people are not respecting the VIPs. People are saying we are all equal sometimes which interrupts our activities,” A UNRA official who is not authorized to speak to the media noted.

The travelers also complained of the lack of enough man power on the ground.

On average over 600 vehicles are crossing using the ferry. For instance, MV Masindi port ferry two carriers 10 Small vehicles like taxis, double cabin among others and 4 Big vehicles like Fuso and bus and the passenger capacity is 120 while the MV Masindi Port 1 carries 6 Small vehicles and two big vehicles and has a capacity of 80 passengers.

On on Sunday 466 small cars crossed, 97 trucks,18 buses, 347 Motorcycles and 41 bicycles.

Following the closure of Karuma bridge to pave way for its reconstruction, apparently the alternative roads being used include Masindi Port Apac, Masindi via Murchison Falls to Pakwach and Masindi Biiso road.

However, travelers using Masindi- Murchison Falls National Park road are always inconvenienced since vehicles are not allowed to move 24 hours.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) released regulations and travelers are not allowed to use the road past 7:00 PM and also the speed limit is always not favorable to the travelers.

Sometimes travelers who are caught by that time Park at Murchison Falls get until morning. Others sleep in their vehicles while others look for where to sleep.