KATONGA, Uganda — The reconstructed Katonga Bridge on the Kampala Masaka Highway is set to be officially commissioned on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, marking the completion of a major reconstruction project launched after the original bridge collapsed in 2023.
The commissioning ceremony will run from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and will be presided over by the Minister of Works and Transport. Traffic on the highway will be temporarily halted for about 20 minutes to allow the ceremony to proceed safely.
The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has asked motorists to follow instructions from traffic police, maintain their lanes and avoid improper overtaking or bypassing during the event.
The original Katonga Bridge collapsed in May 2023 after heavy rains and flooding damaged the structure and sections of the approach roads.
The collapse disrupted direct travel between Kampala and southwestern Uganda, forcing motorists to use longer diversion routes through Mpigi, Kanoni, Gomba, Sembabule and Masaka. The diversion added nearly 100 kilometres to some journeys and affected traders, transport operators and communities along the corridor.
The Ministry of Works and Transport later awarded a Design and Build contract worth about Shs191 billion to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) for the reconstruction of the bridge and associated road works.
Construction began in December 2024. The new bridge was designed to be higher and longer than the previous structure to improve its resilience against flooding.
The project also included 2.7 kilometres of approach roads, work on swamp sections at Lwera and Kalandazi, and widening of parts of the road from seven to 11 metres.
A temporary steel jetty bridge was used to maintain limited traffic during construction.
Final asphalt works on the approaches were carried out in 2026, and the reconstructed bridge was reopened to normal traffic in early October ahead of the official commissioning.
Katonga is also significant in Uganda’s military history.
During the 1981 to 1986 Ugandan Bush War, the area around the bridge became the scene of major fighting between the National Resistance Army (NRA) and the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA).
In late 1985, NRA forces established defensive positions around Katonga, Kayabwe and Lukaya as government forces sought to break through towards Masaka and Mbarara.
On Oct. 13, 1985, UNLA forces launched an offensive in the area. NRA fighters ambushed the advancing troops, contributing to a prolonged confrontation that disrupted government supply and reinforcement routes to southwestern Uganda.
The fighting around Katonga formed part of the wider military campaign that preceded the NRA capture of Kampala on Jan. 26, 1986.
The area later became associated with the Order of Katonga, Uganda’s highest military decoration, which recognises exceptional acts of heroism.
The Katonga River itself also has a much older historical significance. Before colonial rule, it served as part of the frontier between the kingdoms of Buganda and Bunyoro.
Today, the Kampala Masaka Highway remains one of Uganda’s important transport corridors, carrying passengers, agricultural produce and other goods between central and southwestern Uganda.
The road also connects Uganda to regional markets in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
The commissioning of the reconstructed bridge formally marks the end of a disruption that began with the 2023 collapse, while the restored crossing is expected to improve the movement of people and goods along the corridor.
No part of this publication or its digital content may be reproduced, distributed, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from Kalisho Info.
For inquiries, contact: kalishoinfo@gmail.com
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow Kalisho Info for real-time updates and breaking news.
