Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama will today commission the reconstructed Shs191 billion Katonga Bridge on the Kampala-Masaka Highway, more than three years after floods destroyed the previous crossing and disrupted one of Uganda’s busiest transport routes.
The commissioning ceremony is scheduled to take place between 9am and 10:30am on October 17, 2026, with motorists warned of a temporary traffic stoppage of about 20 minutes.
Kananura Michael, the Directorate of Traffic and road safety, spokesperson, said the interruption was necessary to ensure the safety of invited guests and other road users attending the ceremony.
“Traffic at the bridge will be temporarily halted for approximately 20 minutes during the commissioning ceremony,” Kananura said.
He urged motorists to exercise patience, follow instructions from traffic police officers deployed at the site and avoid dangerous overtaking or attempts to bypass other vehicles.
“Motorists are advised to maintain lane discipline and cooperate with the officers to ensure smooth traffic flow,” he said.
Kananura said the Directorate was appealing to all road users to remain calm and cooperative during the ceremony to minimise congestion and protect road users.
The commissioning marks a major milestone in the restoration of the Kampala-Masaka Highway after the old Katonga Bridge was severely damaged by flash floods in May 2023, cutting off direct movement along the route.
The disaster occurred when River Katonga burst its banks, with floodwaters washing away parts of the bridge and covering sections of the highway. The damage forced the Uganda National Roads Authority to divert traffic as engineers assessed the extent of the destruction.
The closure disrupted transport between Kampala and southwestern Uganda, forcing heavy trucks and other motorists to use longer alternative routes through Mpigi, Kanoni, Sembabule and Masaka.
The diversion increased fuel consumption, travel time and operating costs for transporters, traders and passenger service providers. The disruption also affected the movement of agricultural produce and other goods along a corridor that serves domestic trade and cross-border traffic.
In July 2024, Parliament heard concerns about the prolonged disruption, with Kashari North MP Basil Bataringaya telling legislators that the closure had inconvenienced traders because of the additional time and money required to reach their destinations.
The government subsequently committed Shs191.4 billion to construct a permanent replacement bridge and repair flood-damaged sections of the Kampala-Masaka Highway, including areas around Lwera and Kalandazi swamps.
The contract was awarded to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), with construction involving a redesigned bridge intended to withstand flooding better than the previous structure.
The project included a higher, longer bridge and 2.7 kilometres of approach roads. Works also covered improvements to affected highway sections to strengthen the transport corridor and improve traffic movement.
The reconstructed bridge reopened to normal traffic on October 2, 2026, restoring direct movement along the Kampala-Masaka Highway. Saturday’s ceremony will formally mark its commissioning.
The project is particularly important because the highway connects Kampala with Masaka and southwestern Uganda and forms part of a major route used by businesses and transporters moving goods towards neighbouring countries.
The commissioning also comes as the government implemented the second quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year, with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development releasing Shs21.82 trillion for government expenditure.
The Ministry of Works and Transport received Shs1.48 trillion in the second-quarter release to support ongoing transport infrastructure development and maintenance projects.
The allocation covers a range of transport-related programmes and projects, including Uganda Airlines, Uganda Railways, Kalangala Infrastructure Services and the Standard Gauge Railway. It is not an allocation exclusively for the Katonga Bridge.
The second-quarter release represents approximately 26 per cent of the approved national budget for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The Katonga Bridge reconstruction is among the major road infrastructure interventions undertaken following the 2023 floods, which exposed the vulnerability of critical transport links to extreme weather and flooding.
With normal traffic restored, the government will be looking to the reconstructed crossing to improve the reliability of transport along the Kampala-Masaka corridor and reduce the risk of a repeat of the prolonged disruption experienced after the old bridge was damaged.
Motorists using the route on Saturday have been urged to plan their journeys accordingly and comply with traffic police instructions during the commissioning ceremony.
