Walela Culvert Bridge Dedication

Lira, Uganda

Walela Culvert Bridge Dedication

Representatives of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and counterparts from the United States military dedicated the $375,000 Walela Culvert bridge in Lira District on Tuesday, May 12 at 11 a.m. 

The Walesa Culvert Bridge connects the main Lira road to Aromo subcounty.  It will improve the lives of more than 60,000 people from three villages by eliminating their current half-day walk to work, hospital and schools and by providing them with year-round access to the Lira Market. Access to markets is critical to the economic recovery of northern Ugandan households after years of conflict. The new bridge will also aid in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable households still recovering from the effects of conflict, particularly the elderly, disabled and sick.  The bridge is near the triangle where Gulu, Pader and Lira districts meet, and so it will also help strengthen economic and social ties between the Langi and Acholi people of northern Uganda. 

To build the 50 meter culvert bridge, 25 U.S. Navy construction engineers partnered and worked side-by-side with counterpart engineers from the UPDF.  This project is one of several civilian affairs projects carried out by the two militaries, and is part of the United States Government’s overall support for peace, reconstruction and development in the north. 

The Government of Uganda was represented by Minister of works and Transport, Eng. John Nasasira.  The United States was represented by Rear Admiral Anthony Kurta, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, based in Djibouti, and by Kathleen FitzGibbon, Chief of Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Mission in Kampala.