THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT

WASHED AWAY BRIDGES IN MANAFWA DISTRICT

ASSESSMENT REPORT

JULY 2019
Contents
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................3
OBSERVATIONS.................................................................................................................3
FINDINGS AND PROPOSED INTERVENTION...............................................................4
CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................6
RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................................................6
ANNEX 1: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE FIELD INSPECTIONS....................................7
ANNEX 2: COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS.................................................................12
INTRODUCTION
Inspection of Six (6) Bridges and 3 roads in Manafwa District was carried out on 17 th July
2019 following a directive from the Hon. Minister of State for Works for inspection of
critical road spots damaged by the ongoing heavy rains in the District and the country at large
(copy of request attached as Annex 2).
Sites inspection were carried out with the overall aim of accessing the extent of the damage,
proposing safe and feasible technical solutions for remedying the situation.
Site inspection was carried out by the following:
1. Eng. Stephen Seninde Principle Engineer, Ministry of Works & Transport
2. Mr. Moses Kibirige Senior Engineer (Civil), Ministry of Works & Transport
3. Mr. Charles M Ddungu Engineer (Civil), Ministry of Works & Transport
4. Mr. Anthony Khauka Roads Inspector, Manafwa DLG

OBSERVATIONS
The following were the observations made while in the District
1. The District is of mixed terrain with high lying areas and low-lying areas. Streams
and Rivers run from the high lying area to the low-lying areas carrying debris.
2. The affected locations were culvert crossings (drainage structures) and not bridges as
perpetuated
3. Road sections were observed to be eroded by the storm water due to lack of adequate
protection
4. Lack of maintenance regimes have rendered the once functional structures
nonfunctional.
5. Human activity especially lumbering and sand mining has worsened the effect
6. The above factors have led to a rapid deterioration of the road network in Manafwa
District
FINDINGS AND PROPOSED INTERVENTION
The Findings and Proposed Interventions are detailed in the table below for the Different Roads and Swamp crossings
Link Name Existing Condition (Pictures attached in Annex 1) Proposed Intervention Estimated Number of
Culverts/Gabion boxes
Tembelela  Structure is located on Ikaali – Nambale Road  Provide 3 lines of 1500mm Armco culverts 24m – 1500mm Dia
Bridge  The approach road is in good condition on a rock bed foundation. These should be
 The existing structures is a skew double cell of 900mm painted internally and externally to reduce 16 Gabion boxes
concrete culverts. corrosion 4 Gabion matresses
 Only 1 line is functional, the other is broken  Raise the crossing by 0.5m for a distance of
 End structures damaged with an eroded bed 100m
 Failure is due to poor maintenance regimes
Nakolokoto  Structure is located on Bukhaweka - Butiru Road  Line the inlet with 10m of Gabion boxes 24 Gabion Boxes
Bridge  The existing structure is a vented drift composed of 1 line  Desilt the inlet
of 1200mm Dia Armco culvert and 2 lines of 900mm  Install Gabion boxes wing walls and backfill
Concrete culvert  River training for 50m at the inlet and 100m
 Human activity of sand mining observed along the stream at the outlet
 Outlet structures have collapsed leaving part of the  Provide two (2) layers of gabion boxes of 2 x
structure dangerously hanging. 1x 1 at the outlet to reduce the drop
 Community sensitization about the effects of
sand mining on the structure
Bukhaweka -  Connects Bukusu, Makenya and Butiru Sub Counties  Swamp raising by 0.8m 22m 1200mm Culverts
Butiru Road  In a fair condition but with a 200m swampy section from  Provide 3 lines of 1200mm Armco culverts
(8.8Km) 3 + 650 to 3 + 850 with one skewed 12 Gabion Boxes
 Swamp has 3 lines of 900mm Armco culverts  Provide protection works using gabion boxes
and mattresses 6 Gabion mattresses
 Raise the Ditch wall to avoid overflowing
 Stone pitch for a total length of 1km
Nandelema  The structure is located on Namekhala – Bunyinza –  Structure can be reinstated to its full Provide 60 Gabion
Bridge Namboko Road functionality by providing gabion boxes to boxes
 The existing structure is a vented drift made of 6 lines of check the scoring
600mm concrete culverts. Dimensions 21m long and 6m  River training especially upstream
wide  Desilting the culverts upstream
 Upstream of the structure was observed to be obstructed  Repairs on the drift
with Eucalyptus trees
 Only one (1) culvert was observed to be functioning with
the rest silted up
 The outlet side was seen to be hanging due to continuous
erosion to a depth of 4m
 Human activity of sand mining was evidenced to be in
progress
 It was concluded that no maintenance was being carried.
Saamba Bridge  The Structure is located on Kilyamenti - Saamba Road  Provide 3 lines of 1500mm Armco culverts 24 m of 1500mm
 Team was informed that there was a vented drift that had  Protect the slopes with gabion boxes
been washed  Provide reinforced end structures 40 Gabion boxes
 School going children were seen crossing at a low point
bare footed and jumping across. 4 Gabion matresses
 Most traffic has abandoned the route
Lwanjusi –  Damaged vented drift (Lwanjusi Bridge) at Ch 1 + 200.  Provide 3 lines if 1500mm Dia Armco 24 m of 1500mm
Bunabwira Consists of 3 lines of 900mm concrete culverts. It was culverts, Gabion works and River train 40 gabion boxes
Road (3.0 Km) damaged due to lack of maintenance. 4 gabion mattresses
 Swamp section at 2 + 300 – 2 + 900 (Nangilima Bridge). Provide an extra line of 2100mm dia Armco 8 m of 2100mm
There’s a single line of 2100mm Dia Armco culvert with culvert and 4 lines of 1200mm dia Armco
32m of 1200mm
insufficient cover. culverts. Swamp raise by 2 m
96 gabion boxes
12 Gabion mattresses
Butiru –  Connects Butiru and Bukhadala Sub counties  Provide additional 12 lines of 600mm 72m of 600mm
Salosalo Road  Evidence of erosion seen concrete culverts
(8.1 Km)  Team informed that sections are submerged during the  Provide additional 4 lines of 900mm 36m of 900mm
rainy seasons rendering unfit for use concrete culverts
 Heavy grading and shaping of the road
 Provide side drains
Summary of Materials’ requirement
Total Length Required in Gabions (Pcs)
M of Culverts
2100mm 1500mm 1200mm 900mm 600mm Boxes Matresses
Dia Dia Dia Dia Dia (2*1*1) (3*2*0.5)
8 72 54 36 72 288 30

CONCLUSION
Though there’s ongoing rains in the District, it was observed that the structures could have
been in functional state but maintenance has been neglected for a while hence affecting their
usability. These can be reinstated but need to be managed well

RECOMMENDATIONS
 MoWT should supply culverts and gabions to the district for installation to prevent
loss of lives and ensure service delivery.
 Ministry should assist the Districts in lobbing URF and MoFPED to avail funds for
emergency and maintenance works.
 The District officials need to sensitize their populations on the dangers that human
activity is causing that will lead to loss of lives
 Maintenance regimes need to be designed and followed by the District’s Engineering
Department to avoid structures deteriorating to dangerous levels that would lead to
loss of lives
ANNEX 1: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE FIELD INSPECTIONS
a) Tembelela Bridge

Figure 1: Approach to Tembelela Bridge Figure 2: Erosion behind headwall

Figure 3: Broken pipe culvert at the outlet Figure 4: Blocked culvert pipe at the inlet.

b) Nakolokoto Bridge

Figure 5: Approch to Nakolokoto Bridge Figure 6: Blockage at the inlet of the pipe culverts
Figure 7: Scouring at the outlet of vented drift due to sand Figure 8: Human activity (farming & sand mining)
mining upstream of bridge site.

c) Bukhaweka – Butiru Road (Swamp Section)

Figure 9: Swamp Section (200m) that requires raising Figure 10: Eroded section of swamp.
(0.8m).

Figure 11: Exposed 600mm Armco Culvert within the Figure 12: Heavily eroded side drains narrowing the
swamp existing road
d) Nandelama Bridge

Figure 13: Eroded section of the Vented drift. Figure 14: Erosion at the outlet of drift leaving hanging
section of the road

Figure 15: Human activity of sand mining & tree planting Figure 16: Diverted river channel due to human activity
within the river stream.

e) Saamba Bridge

Figure 18: Washed away concrete pipe culvert

Figure 17: Swamp section with no drainage structure in
place
f) Lwanjusi Bridge

Figure 19: Collapsed vented drift Figure 20: Erosion at the downstream of vented drift

Figure 21: Vegetation & human activity causing blockage

at the inlet of vented drift
g) Nangilima Swamp along Butiru – Salosalo Road

Figure 22: Approach to swamp from Butiru side. Figure 23: Human activity of rice growing within the
swamp

Figure 24: Single line of 1500mm diameter culvert Figure 25: View of swamp crossing from Salosalo side
installed at main river crossing
ANNEX 2: COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS