Noel Muwuluzi, a traveler appeals to Uganda National Roads Authority come to their rescue and repair the ferry to ease their movement. He notes it is a shortcut to a number of people responsible for winning bread for their families.
Travelers on
the Kayunga-Kamuli route are protesting the delayed repair of Mbulamuti ferry,
saying it is taking a huge toll on their movements and businesses. The ferry
has been dysfunctional for a period of two weeks now.
Travelers who have been using the ferry, say
they are unable to meet the exorbitant transport fares charged by taxi
operators.
Apparently,
for one to travel by road from Kayunga to Kamuli, they have to go through Jinja,
which costs at least Shillings 30, 000 and spending about three hours on the
trip.
The same journey on a ferry takes
about 30 minutes. Asuman Kaliisa, a regular traveler says whenever the ferry
breakdown, canoe operators double the fares from Shillings 4000 to 8000 yet using
them is very risky.
Kayunga
often crosses to Kayunga to check on his banana plantation and poultry farm
that requires his personal supervision. Kaliisa notes that it is also easy for
many traders and produce dealers.
He says
loading goods and produces on canoes is risky compared to using a ferry.
//Cue in: “Ebyamaguzi nga…
Cue out: …jebeera elaga,”//
Noel Muwuluzi, another traveler appeals to Uganda National Roads Authority come
to their rescue and repair the ferry to ease their movement. He notes it is a
shortcut to a number of people responsible for winning bread for their
families.
//Cue in: “Entambula wetwogerera…
Cue out: …lwa ferry okufa,”//
Allan Ssempebwa, the Media Relations, Public and Corporates Manager of UNRA
says the ferry is down due to several mechanical challenges that they are working on.
He says the ferry got faulty due to the increasing water levels and
they cannot risk operating it in its current condition.
"Besides ensuring that we address the
mechanical challenge, we are also trying to set up another temporary docking
pier for easy landing once it resumes services,” Ssempebwa notes.
The Mbulamuti ferry has been going through a series of maintenance and repair
over the years. In July last year, it almost capsized on River Nile
due to heavyweight from two sand trucks and about 50 travelers.
.
