Heavy rains collapse roads

Rwanda Uganda Roads Collapse to Heavy Rains

The month of May has always been heavy down pour all day all time. However, May 2018, rain seems to have poured much more than before in such a way that no single day passes with out rains. As expected, the heavy rains have led to landslides and collapse of various roads in the highlands of Uganda and Rwanda. The collapse of these roads has disrupted gorilla tours in Uganda especially for clients who cross from Rwanda to Uganda. The recent incident was along the katuna-Rwanda road where the bridge located 3 kilometers to Uganda Rwanda border collapsed suspending all traffic connecting Uganda and Rwanda. Katuna is the easiest borders through which travelers from Kigali easily connect to Rushaga the southern sector of Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable forest national part, the entire of gorilla tours in the pearl of Africa. Connecting from Rwanda to Uganda for gorilla tours has been successful in the past months unlike in this May, which has left most roads impassable. These days, most travelers connect from Rwanda to Uganda to enjoy an encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas at a relatively low cost.

As expected, the damage of roads left hundreds of traveler’s stranded especially who were coming and this travelling back to Rwanda for their connecting flights. The road is risky and not safe for travelers with their properties. For that matter, all motorists were advised to use Ntungamo-Mirama hills -kagitumbe road till further notice. To ease movements and avoid any trouble the Uganda national roads authority (UNRA) has suggested alternative routes for those connecting from Uganda and Rwanda. The latest fracture was on19th May 2018 after other incidences that happened before. The collapse of these roads is mainly attributed to the heavy rains which causing landslides in the hilly areas of Uganda of Rwanda.

Also, tectonic forces could be one of the reasons for the collapsing of roads most of which are in volcanic areas. Other areas that have shown signs of collapsing include along kabale Ntungamo road and kabale katuna road. It’s fortunate that the Uganda national road authority is always ready to divert travelers to use other routes in case one gets a problem.
According to some local residents, the recent rupture was previously a shallow well, which was filled with stones and gravel to create a road. Most of the were constructed by geo textile permeable fabrics all able to discrete, sieve. reinforce, protect and drain in case it rains.

Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla national parks both in southwestern Uganda are the popular tourism destination in Uganda, which attract the highest number of travelers from all parts of the world. Uganda is a home to the highest number of mountain gorillas with 13-gorilla families habituated for trekking 12 in Bwindi forest national park and 1 family in Mgahinga gorilla national park. Also, Uganda is alternative gorilla destination for most travelers. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is quite costing 700usd for a gorilla permit compared to the neighboring Rwanda where a gorilla permit cost 1500usd.

Other activities that can be done in Uganda and Rwanda besides gorilla trekking include golden monkey trekking in Mgahinga gorilla national park in Mgahinga (Uganda) and Volcanoes national park in Rwanda. Also travelers take part in cultural tours to the Batwa communities who are former dwellers of gorilla habitats before there were transferred into national parks.

Also, do not miss out hiking any of the Virunga volcanoes in Uganda Rwanda, which make your safari a complete safari package. These volcanoes include Mt Sabyinyo, Mt Gahinga, Mt Muhabura, and Karisimbi among others.

Posted in Travel Advice.

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