Construction of Woko Bridge in Arua City is set to resume after nearly ten months of inactivity following the release of funds that had stalled the project. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has notified Arua City Council that the remaining funds required to complete the bridge, and two related community projects are ready for disbursement, paving the way for works to restart.
The 583 million shillings project, which involves the construction of a new box culvert bridge, was contracted in July 2025, and works were expected to be completed within three months of signing. The projects include construction of the bridge, a two-kilometre murram road and a community borehole, which were promised as part of the community benefits associated with the establishment of the Nyio electricity substation in Ayivu East Division.
The contractor, Acewere Titus, Managing Director of the construction company, attributed the delays to late release of funds by the ministry. He said the funding constraints affected all three projects, with work only partially completed on the bridge while construction of the road and borehole never began.
By the time work stopped, about 47 percent of the bridge had been completed, including the foundation and base. The remaining works include construction of the bridge deck and access roads. Residents have since relied on a temporary footbridge to cross the stream, but many say it is inadequate, particularly during the rainy season.
Pasca Ayikoru, a resident living with a physical disability, said the unfinished bridge has made it difficult to access markets, schools and health facilities. “It becomes even more difficult during the rainy season because crossing to the other side is not easy with my condition,” she said.
LC I Chairperson William Asianzu said residents had become increasingly frustrated by the prolonged silence surrounding the project. He said community members deserved regular updates on the delays instead of being left to speculate about whether the works had been abandoned.
Area councilor Sina Florence said completion of the bridge remains critical because many residents cross it daily to reach Muni Primary School, health centres and places of worship. Former Ayivu East Division Member of Parliament Geoffrey Feta welcomed the ministry’s decision to release the remaining funds, saying the community had waited long enough for the projects to be completed.
The contractor says work on the bridge, road and borehole will now proceed simultaneously to speed up implementation. A revised completion schedule is expected to be agreed upon after a joint assessment by officials from the ministry and Arua City Council before construction officially resumes.
The projects were initiated after the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development established the Nyio electricity substation to strengthen power supply across the West Nile sub-region. As part of the project’s community benefit commitments, residents requested improved road access and a reliable source of clean water. Initial funding released during the 2024/25 financial year enabled site handover and preliminary bridge works before the project stalled because of funding constraints-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
