KANUNGU – The collapse of the Matanda-Kihihi Bridge has plunged Kanungu District into a crisis, with residents left stranded as they await emergency rehabilitation from the government.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The bridge, which collapsed in April 2026 following a heavy downpour, was a critical artery connecting communities to healthcare, markets, and schools.
The destruction has severed access to Kihihi Town Council and Matanda Health Centre III, forcing locals to carry sick individuals across dangerous river crossings on their backs for a fee of up to 5,000 Shillings.
Local resident Dan Turyamwiuka described the dire situation, explaining that the bridge’s collapse has forced locals to carry sick people on their backs across dangerous high waters to reach Matanda Health Centre III.
“Due to the collapse of this bridge, we are now forced to carry sick people on our backs to cross to Matanda Health Centre III for treatment, which is very risky, especially these days when the water levels are high,” said Turyamwiuka.
The bridge collapse has dealt a heavy blow to the local economy, forcing boda boda riders and traders onto longer, pricier routes that inflate commodity costs and cut farmers off from their markets.
Although the district council allocated 20 million Shillings for repairs in the 2026/2027 budget, officials concede the funds fall far short of what is needed for a permanent solution.
The Kyiruruma Cell Chairperson, Festo Katabagwa, noted that culvert pipes were washed away three months before the final collapse, revealing that prior damage was known but went unaddressed.
District Engineer Owino Stephen confirmed that the Ministry of Works was notified and a formal emergency rehabilitation request was submitted on May 4, 2026. Yet, as of July 2026, the district is still awaiting a response.
Nyamirama Sub-county LC3 Chairperson Gad Kabagambe has voiced deep concern over residents’ perilous reliance on makeshift river crossings that put lives at daily risk.
Boda boda rider Moses Arineitwe echoed the mounting frustration, questioning why local leaders remain silent on a crisis they are fully aware of while the community’s patience wears dangerously thin.
Residents who use the bridge in Kanungu District are left to navigate the dangerous waters on their own, as they continue to wait for a government response and a swift intervention that has yet to arrive.
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