(Posted 06th May 2024)
Tourist visitors to the Murchison Falls National Park are advised to brace themselves for a significant increase in transit traffic by large busses, lorries, trailers, articulated vehicles and other heavy vehicles, which are with immediate effect directed to use the main park road as a diversion route following the closure of the Karuma bridge for heavy traffic. This is the main route for traffic, in particular cargo traffic, to the border with South Sudan and beyond, but also to the West Nile area of Uganda as well as the northern town of Gulu. (More information further below so read on)
Subsequently has the Uganda Wildlife Authority issued an advisory notice, to ensure compliance with park rules, saying:
Following the recent announcement by @UNRA_UG regarding the closure of Karuma bridge to lorries, trailers, and buses, we are issuing the following guideline on transiting through Murchison Falls National Park.
Tourist visitors, especially those on self drive safaris, but also residents of Uganda visiting the park with their own cars, are urged to exercise utmost caution when driving into and out of the park while encountering heavy vehicles on the road and rather give way to avoid any dangerous close up and personal encounters.
CONDITION OF THE EXISTING KARUMA BRIDGE AND ITS CLOSURE TO TRAFFIC FLOW.
To be closed to all lorries, trailers & buses from Mon 06th May 2024.
Only passenger vehicles carrying up to 28 passengers will be allowed to use the bridge.
A team of UNRA, UWA and Uganda Police was conducting an emergency inspection following complaints by road users about the state of the bridge and the approach road on both sides. This led to the immediate closure of the bridge for heavy traffic.
UNRA has also published information about the closure of roads and bridges in other parts of Uganda via https://twitter.com/UNRA_UG and motorists are advised to regularly check on updates especially when traveling by car to areas of Uganda affected by the current very heavy rains.
