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Movement on the Kampala-Gulu highway was on Monday paralysed following the total closure of Karuma Bridge that links northern Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo.

The government closed the defective 61-year-old bridge to pave the way for its reconstruction, which is expected to take three months.

As a result, all road users have been blocked from accessing the bridge, with all motorists diverted. Those plying the Kampala-Karuma-Gulu, and the Kampala-Karuma-West Nile routes have been diverted at River Kafu via Masindi town onwards to Paraa and exit onto the Pakwach-Karuma thoroughfare at Tangi gate, and follow the same reverse trip.

Motorists from Lira to Kampala have been provided with three alternative routes. They can use the Lira-Dokolo-Soroti-Kumi-Pallisa-Tirinyi-Nakalama through Iganga onwards to Kampala via Jinja, and vice versa. The motorists can also access Kampala through Kamdini to the T-Junction on the Karuma Bridge approach, and onwards to Paraa and Masindi town and exit onto River Kafu.

Another alternative route for motorists from Lira to Kampala is through Apac via Masindi Port, and onwards onto Rwenkunye. This alternative route increases by 153 kilometres, the usual distance on the 338-kilometre drive between Kampala and Lira through Karuma.

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