Anthony Okucu, the UNRA Lira Station Engineer says the ferry has resumed normal operation and is capable of conducting 22 trips a day. He asked the travelers to resume their normal travel schedules.
Uganda
National Roads Authority- UNRA has resumed the operations of Masindi Port ferry
on River Nile, three months after suspension.
UNRA
announced the resumption of the Masindi Port Ferry on Thursday after it was temporarily
suspended last year due to high water level in River Nile that flooded the
ferry landing sites and access roads.
The
ferry that connects Kiryandongo to Apac district through Masindi port and Kungu
route across River Nile suspended operations in December last year to allow
engineers work on the route.
Anthony Okucu, the UNRA Lira Station Engineer says the
ferry has resumed normal operation and is capable of conducting 22 trips a day.
He asked the travelers to resume their normal travel schedules.
The
Masindi port ferry master Charles Alex Bogere, told Uganda Radio Network that
the operation has resumed with normal schedules. Bogere said that their
technical personnel were able to work on the ferry landing ground that had been
disturbing them for a while.
//Cue
in: “We have started …
Cue
out: … which were submerged.”//
The
resumption of the ferry has excited local traders and the travelers.
Nelly
Ajwang, a resident of Apac town who is also a user of the road expressed
excitement following the development. Since suspension Ajwang noted that she
had been spending heavily to travel to Kampala taking the long route from
Apac-Kwania-Lira to Kampala Highway.
//Cue
in: “We’re so happy …
Cue
out: … had no money.”//
Tonny
Otim, a resident of Kungu trading center is optimistic that business will start booming. He says that
for the past months, they have made losses from their various businesses since
their customer base is often often supported by the ferry operation.
During
the last three months, while the ferry was suspended, several trucks loaded
with charcoal and buses full of passengers were seen taking the long route of
Apac-Kwania-Lira to Kampala Highway.
Masindi
Port Ferry is often used by traders from Apac, Kwania, Dokolo and Kiryandongo
districts and passengers from Lira City.
