Kanungu District Engineer Flees as Newly Built Bridge Collapses

The district engineer for Kanungu, January Silangi Mugaye, has reportedly absconded following the premature collapse of the Kankoko bridge. The structure, located in Kanyashande village within Kihembe sub-county, gave way last week after experiencing heavy rainfall, disrupting crucial transport links along the Kihembe–Butogota–Bwindi road.

The Shs 40 million bridge was constructed by the Kanungu district works department. Residents had initially celebrated its completion, anticipating an end to the long-standing difficulties in crossing the Kankoko River. However, their hopes were dashed when the newly built bridge partially failed after only a few months of use.

Local leaders, including Kihembe sub-county LC III chairperson Denis Tumukunde, expressed shock and disappointment, stating that the collapse has returned the community to its previous transport challenges. Tumukunde attributed the failure to poor construction quality.

Kanungu’s deputy resident district commissioner (RDC), Gaddie Rugaaju Ahimbisibwe, echoed these concerns, directly blaming substandard materials and construction practices. He alleged that old, rusty culverts were used instead of new ones, and that inadequate proportions of cement were mixed. Furthermore, Rugaaju claimed that substandard reinforcement bars were used in the retaining walls, compromising the bridge’s structural integrity.

Rugaaju noted that the district engineer and other officials were absent when he visited the site. He has since ordered the police to apprehend Mugaye and other implicated works department officials to aid in the investigation into the alleged shoddy work and potential misuse of public funds.

This incident is particularly concerning as it affects a road vital for tourists heading to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Rugaaju emphasized the unacceptability of such a collapse before the bridge was even officially commissioned and stressed the need for accountability.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/kanungu-district-engineer-on-the-run-after-newly-built-bridge-collapses