An alternate route to Masaka City has been established by the Ministry of Works and Transport across Lake Victoria.
Travelers can take the MV Kalangala or MV NODL-Victoria from Nakiwogo in Entebbe to Bukakata in Masaka, or vice versa, beginning at 1pm on Monday.
After flooding destroyed part of the Katonga Bridge, authorities closed the highway connecting Kampala and Masaka, forcing drivers to take the longer detour around Mpigi and then Sembabule to reach Masaka.
The MV NODL-Victoria will go from Nakiwogo to Masaka via Bukakata, while the MV Kalangala will travel from Nakiwogo to Kalangala.
In contrast to the MV Kalangala, which carries both passengers and cargo, the MV NODL-Victoria only carries people. Only one journey per day will be made.
Mr Sadala Musoke, CEO of Nation Oil Distributors Limited, the company in charge of both carriers, claimed that the alternate route was established following discussions with relevant parties.
“Water transport is the safest and cheapest means of transport but many of our people don’t acknowledge that. This is an opportunity for Ugandans going to Masaka must utilise to minimise the time spent on the road since this will take them only three hours depending on the environment on the lake,” Mr Musoke said, adding that they will be charging only Shs15,000.
Vice chairman of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation (UTOF) Mustapha Mayamba expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, “As taxi drivers, we will continue to be in business. We’ll have to take people from Nakiwogo to the city center, and vice versa,” he remarked.