NATIONAL
The ministry of works and transport has cautioned motorists and other road users against using flooded roads as heavy rains continue to Wragge havoc in many parts of the country.
“I strongly caution all road users not to attempt crossing flooded road sections as the water may conceal washed away surfaces or unstable foundations, posing extreme danger to motorists and pedestrians,” said works and Transport minister, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala.
The warning follows recent separate flooding and landslide incidents in the capital Kampala and Kapchorwa district, which left trail of death and destruction of property including merchandise, crops and animals among others.
According to the minister, the heavy rains, expected to persist and extend up to December have resulted into floods, embankment failures, mudslides and washouts on several sections pf national roads. He advised heavy truck drivers to comply with relevant authorities on traffic diversions in order to prevent further damages and ensuring safety.
“The public is also urged to plan their journeys carefully, exercise patience and practice safety at all times,” he said.
Katumba also expressed government’s commitment to constructing extreme weather resistant road network, singling out ongoing projects such as the reconstruction of Katonga, Lwera, and Kalandazi swampy section along Kampala-Masaka Highway,
“In the medium term, the government is developing climate-resilient road designs to withstand extreme weather events,” he stated, adding that ministry officials together with district and urban authorities are on ground in different parts of the country to offer timely response to secure and reinstate damaged road sections and restore full connectivity.
