Passengers decry heavy traffic, delays in Masindi port ferry services

26 June 2024, 11:19 am

By Joshua Olomo

Apac

Passengers who use the Lira-Apac-Kiryadongo route have decried the delays experienced with the Masindi port ferry services, especially now that the number of passengers on this route has surged.

In early May 2024, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) closed Karuma bridge to heavy vehicles, allowing only vehicles with a maximum capacity of 28 passengers to use the bridge after a crack was discovered.

UNRA announced that the closure would last for three months to allow for repairs on Karuma bridge, forcing some vehicles to use the Masindi port ferry service to continue their journeys to other districts.

The MV Masindi ferry, which connects Apac district to Kiryandongo district, has a capacity of carrying only three vehicles at a time, causing delays as over 50 vehicles use this route daily.

Luyiga Junior, one of the drivers who uses this route to connect to Kampala, has called on the government to intervene and improve the transport system on the road.

Oloya Abubakar, the chairperson of the Waitumba Motorcycle Boda boda Association, said they are facing delays using the ferry due to the high number of passengers on this route.

Joel Opio from Kiryandongo also said they are facing serious difficulties using this route due to delays caused by heavy traffic.

Bogere Charles, the Ferry Master of Masindi Port, referred our reporter to UNRA Public Relations Officer Allan Ssempewa Kyobe, who did not respond to our calls for a comment.