infrastructure 14 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
New Ssezibwa Arch Bridge Nears Completion, Bringing Relief to Kayunga Motorists
Construction of Uganda's first arch bridge over River Ssezibwa in Kayunga District is 98% complete, with overall project progress at 60%, set for handover in December 2026. The Shs54 billion project by Dynaco Ltd replaces a 70-year-old dilapidated structure, easing detours for heavy vehicles and boosting regional trade. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/motorists-rejoice-as-construction-of-new-ssezibwa-bridge-nears-completion-5422954
Motorists in Kayunga District are celebrating as the new Ssezibwa Bridge approaches completion, promising an end to years of detours and high costs caused by the old, unsafe structure.
Built by local firm Dynaco Ltd at a cost of Shs54 billion, the project kicked off in 2024. It includes a 1.6km road stretch across the Ssezibwa swamp, replacing a bridge installed 70 years ago that has barred heavy vehicles since 2024.
Site Engineer Sam Nabimanya reports the bridge structure is fully built, with only side barriers left to install. Four box culverts, each with three cells, are also complete. Project quality controller Derrick Arinaitwe notes road widening in swampy areas is underway before tarmacking, with the bridge at 98% and the full project at 60% progress.
Drivers like sugarcane lorry operator Simon Kitimbo and trailer driver Daniel Lule welcome the development. Detours via Kyampisi-Ntunda to Kabimbiri spike fuel and maintenance expenses, especially in rainy seasons when roads turn impassable. The new bridge will enhance access for farm produce, lifting farmer incomes along the Kalagi-Kayunga route.
Kayunga District chairperson Andrew Muwonge highlights improved connectivity with Kamuli, Mukono, and Buyende districts, complementing the Isimba bridge over the Nile.
Challenges including heavy rains halting work, marram shortages, and UNRA’s merger with the Ministry of Works and Transport have delayed timelines. As Uganda’s pioneering arch bridge, it allows vegetation passage underneath, boasts a 120-year lifespan, and could last longer with maintenance.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)