The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has come out to clarify on the ongoing works at the Source of the Nile Bridge.

Photos emerged on Social Media shows the bridge undergoing repair, which left many wondering how a new bridge that was launched recently could have needed repair..

In an official statement, UNRA noted that the ongoing works were deliberate and not as a result of a defect on the bridge.

UNRA revealed that the contractor is applying permanent asphalt (see this page for more info) over the bridge after conducting several tests.

Here is UNRA’s Full statement:

Statement: Ongoing works at the Source of the Nile Bridge.

In an earlier communication, the Uganda National Roads Authority [UNRA] informed the public that the Contractor on the Source of the Nile Bridge in Jinja was conducting several tests to form a base line data for the Bridge Structural Health monitoring.

We also added that the wearing course seen and referred to as ‘bumpy’ or cracked by a section of the public is a non structural attachment and therefore not a defect on the bridge.

It’s to be replaced with permanent asphalt as soon as investigation on structural behaviour is concluded and baseline data is formed. This will be done within the defect liability period before contractor leaves the site.

At the moment, the Contractor has completed all the tests and has embarked on plans to start application of permanent asphalt on the bridge deck but as a contractual requirement they are preparing a trial section of asphalt on the bridge at the length of approximately 100m on both approaches of the bridge.

This is ongoing and the exercise shall not interrupt the flow of traffic on the bridge.