Laropi Ferry to close for two weeks for 'urgent repairs'

What the report says

The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced a two-week suspension of MV Laropi Ferry services on the Laropi–Omi route to allow urgent repairs to the vessel’s steel structure. According to the public notice cited by Nile Post, the closure will run from August 10 to August 25, 2026, with operations expected to resume on August 26.

The ferry connects Moyo and Adjumani districts and is a key transport link in the Ma’di sub-region, carrying passengers, vehicles and cargo across the River Nile. During the shutdown, travellers have been advised to use longer detour routes via Kampala–Gulu–Adjumani–Obongi Ferry–Moyo or Kampala–Pakwach Bridge–Nebbi–Arua–Koboko–Yumbe–Moyo. The ministry said the work is a temporary step aimed at improving reliability and safety while a more comprehensive repair and rehabilitation plan is prepared.

The latest interruption adds to concern over repeated breakdowns of the ageing vessel. Nile Post reported that ferry services were also disrupted last month after a mechanical fault shortly after maintenance, leaving passengers stranded before engineers restored service. Local leaders have said the recurring problems disrupt trade and access to services, and Moyo District Woman MP Bernadette Chandia Kodili said she would raise the matter with ministry officials and in Parliament.

The report also notes continuing calls for the Laropi Bridge, which the government says would provide a permanent alternative. It said the African Development Bank has given clearance for procurement to begin on the bridge project, which is expected to run alongside upgrading the Laropi–Moyo–Afoji road.