Kampala — The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) has announced that the Karuma Bridge, a key transit point along the Kampala-Gulu Highway, will officially reopen to all traffic on Monday, April 14, 2025.
The reopening follows critical strengthening works aimed at reinforcing the 62-year-old bridge. The Ministry confirmed that the successful installation and curing of expansion joints—essential elements that allow bridges to expand and contract with temperature fluctuations and traffic loads—has been completed. This vital upgrade ensures the bridge’s structural integrity and extends its operational lifespan.
The bridge had been closed in March to allow full-scale reconstruction after earlier signs of stress and aging raised concerns about its ability to handle heavy traffic. Karuma Bridge serves as a strategic artery, connecting Uganda’s northern and southern regions and facilitating trade routes to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Although the bridge will reopen for vehicles, the MoWT emphasized that additional works such as the installation of guardrails, street lighting, river training, cat’s eyes, and painting of steel structures under the bridge will continue. However, the Ministry assured the public that these remaining tasks would not disrupt traffic flow.
Karuma Bridge’s reopening restores a critical link in East Africa’s transport and trade network, ensuring that both local commuters and international trade routes remain operational.