Bridge Project

The river Oleri separates two villages, Mulanda and Lwala, in eastern Uganda. Mulanda is more developed than Lwala, but Lwala is more fertile. The government health center, schools and good road to the nearest town, Tororo, as well as the HIV/AIDS clinic run by Sikiliza Leo ( a local non profit organization I visited last year) are all located in Mulanda. Because of this, the people of Lwala have difficulty getting to Tororo to sell the produce that they grow on the river banks, getting to secondary schools and, most importantly, having access to any healthcare, including the distribution of HIV/AIDS drugs. Lives are unnecessarily lost due to the poor access available, especially during rainy months, to the river crossing. Children are especially affected by this, sometimes dying of preventable causes like dehydration, fever and in child birth. There was a bridge built in the 1960s, but it stands in terrible disrepair, due to the wear and tear of time and flooding during the rainy season, when it is impassable all together. The river has become wider and the existing bridge is passable only on foot and only at certain times of the year.

In August when the river is most dry, the building of the bridge will begin and will be supervised by two civil engineers . They will use local masons and porters, as well as villagers wherever possible. A bridge committee has been be formed, comprised of villagers from both Mulanda and Lwala. Their purpose will be to maintain the bridge after its completion. The Pilot Light Foundation is pleased and excited to be able to help in the amelioration of so many lives for such a relatively small sum of money.

Project Budget: 26,000.00 Budget Complete


Here is a section of the old bridge.


Construction begins on the new bridge.


Villagers at work on the new bridge.


The road leading to the bridge.


Swampy stretch that fills during the rainy season

            Stretch of 3 km series or bridges and culverts


                     Two culverts from top of bridge