APOLLO BUREGYEYA: When an intelligent bridge loses power

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion piece by Apollo Buregyeya arguing that a power outage can affect more than homes and businesses: it can also disable the monitoring and control systems of the New Nile Bridge. The article says the bridge relies on electricity for sensors, weather measurement, GPS-based movement checks, data collection and cable-management systems, making backup power part of its overall maintenance needs.

The piece highlights the bridge’s two standby generators and says their value depends on regular servicing, testing, fuel availability and automatic switchover systems. It warns that if backup power is not maintained, batteries can run down, data transmission can stop and engineers can lose the continuous information needed to track the bridge’s condition. Repeated power interruptions, the article adds, can also increase wear on batteries, control panels and communication equipment.

Buregyeya frames the issue as a broader infrastructure management concern rather than an immediate structural failure. In the article’s view, a modern bridge must be maintained not only through inspections of concrete and steel, but also through upkeep of software, sensors, generators, batteries and fuel supplies. The post also notes that a dedicated maintenance team continues to inspect the bridge from above, below and inside its structure, underscoring the human role behind an “intelligent” asset.

The commentary was published by Watchdog Uganda and is presented as an op-ed, offering a cautionary look at how reliable electricity supports the safe operation of major public infrastructure in Uganda.