The residents of Mountain Elgon National park have called on the Mbale District local government to respond swiftly into the collapse of the Bubiangu route of the Malende Bridge.
The Malende Bridge was constructed during the 2023-2024 financial year with a 1.7 billion shillings budget allocated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal husbandry.
However, most of the residents raised concerns of the sub-standard workmanship on Malende Bridge that they argued has contributed to the bridge collapse making the Park’s accessibility nearly impossible.
According to one of the residents of Bubiangu sub- county, Hamza Gidudu during an interview in the local radio on December 9, 2024,he attributed the collapse of the bridge to sub-standard work and the ongoing rains which have led to the inaccessibility of Mount Elgon National Park.
“Access to Mount Elgon National Park via the bridge located in Bubiangu sub-county was washed away following heavy rainfall that affected the region over the past two weeks, ”Gidudu said.
He , however criticized the quality of the work stating that it was poorly executed, prompting calls for immediate attention and rectification.
Gidudu said that, the bridge’s failure not only affects local transportation but also poses challenges for tourism and conservation efforts within the national park, which is known for its rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes.
However, Mbale District LC Five Chief Person Muhammad Mafabi explained that the district could not immediately address the issue due to the ongoing rains.
He assured the public that funds had been allocated under the Climatic Parties Agriculture Programme and repairs would begin in the current financial year.
