Entebbe leaders want Nakiwogo landing site developed into a port

Entebbe municipality leaders have asked the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to upgrade Nakiwogo landing site to a fully-fledged port so as to handle huge vessels and more traffic.

The appeal was made by civic leaders and technical officials while interfacing with UNRA officials during the joint inspection of roads leading to the site and landing pier. The pier is currently in a sorry state, having been badly affected by recent storms and violent Lake Victoria waves resulting in water accidents that have also claimed several lives in recent weeks. 

The bigger and better-constructed part of the pier has developed cracks, with some of the stones giving way. The improvised pier extension, handling basically the Nakiwogo-Buwaya vessel has also caved in, threatening to put service to a halt. 

Eng Ritah Makumbi, manager of ferry projects and landing sites, who led the UNRA team told the leaders that the pier expansion required land and this was a matter that the local leaders had to address because it would entail relocating project-affected people and compensating them. However, she promised that the authority would address the concerns and the request for a port.

“It means you have to talk to the landlords to secure more land because the present space is not enough. The expansion would require the construction of sitting shades, and toilets…All this requires more space," Makumbi said.

UNRA spokesperson Allan Ssempebwa later said the pier repair was already in the pipeline, especially since a bigger vessel was being planned for the Nakiwogo-Buwaya route whose traffic has overstretched the existing ferry. The current vessel according to officials handles 100 people and eight vehicles and makes about eight return routes a day for a distance of around three kilometres.  

The “new” vessel, which hitherto has been serving the Buvuma population in Mukono district reportedly handles 200 people and about 15 vehicles. It has been currently undergoing a few repairs at Luzira. 

The rising Buwaya traffic has been a result of the free ferry service that has seen many people living in Entebbe buying land across and being in a position to own personal property there. The improved transport between Entebbe and Buwaya has also seen land values sharply rise.

Entebbe Division B town clerk, Dan Fred Lutaaya asked UNRA officials to at least provide a sketch plan to enable the leaders to gauge the extent of more land required and the number of persons to be affected. He said Entebbe is the country's gateway and had to reflect that stature.

"People would be in a position to travel from Kisumu directly to Entebbe. Goods can also move more conveniently between the two places,” he said.

Entebbe municipality boasts of hosting Uganda's international airport, several national and international organisations and a myriad of leisure investments. Other leaders who participated in the inspection included Entebbe municipality deputy mayor Charles Kabwama, Entebbe Division B mayor Richard Ssekyondo and councillors from both polities.