Katonga Bridge reopens after Shs190bn reconstruction

What the report says

Traffic has resumed on the Kampala-Masaka highway after the reopening of Katonga Bridge, following a reconstruction project reported by Nile Post to have cost about Shs191 billion. The bridge had collapsed in May 2023 after flooding, cutting a key transport link between central and western Uganda and forcing motorists onto diversion routes for more than two years.

According to the report, the Ministry of Works and Transport worked with China Communications Construction Company on the project. The rebuild included a new elevated bridge, 2.7 kilometres of approach roads, and wider road sections intended to improve traffic flow. The completed structure is described as higher and longer than the former bridge and designed to better withstand flooding.

Nile Post said works began in December 2024 and were finished in 2026, with the restored bridge fully opened to traffic in October. The wider corridor also covers road sections around the Lwera and Kalandazi swamps. The ministry said the upgrade should improve the reliability of the route for passengers and goods moving between central and western Uganda.

The Kampala-Masaka corridor is also an important link for regional trade, connecting traffic toward Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. The reopening is therefore significant not only for local commuters but also for commercial transport along one of Uganda’s busiest road networks.