Yei Residents Warns of Imminent Collapse of Yei-Kaya Road Bridge

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Residents of Yei River County have raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Yei-Kaya Road Bridge, warning that the structure could collapse if urgent repairs are not carried out. Community members say the bridge, which was last rehabilitated around early years of 2000, has developed visible cracks along one edge, posing a serious risk to motorists and pedestrians who use the route daily.

Raida Taban, a resident of Jigomoni, said the cracks have continued to widen over the years and called on both the national and state governments to intervene before tragedy strikes.

“This bridge will one day collapse and kill people if nothing is done. We call on the government in Juba to take corrective measures before it is too late,” she said.

Other residents echoed similar concerns. Moses Luate, a boda-boda rider in Yei Town, said no government officials have visited the site despite repeated complaints from the community.

He noted that the growing cracks on the sides of the bridge are a clear sign that urgent maintenance is needed.

Justine Duku, a truck operator who frequently moves across the bridge, described the bridge’s condition as alarming, warning that many road users are unaware of the extent of the damage beneath the structure.

The Director of Physical Infrastructure in Yei River County, Richard Lugala Godo, recently told Access Radio that the county government lacks sufficient resources and machinery to carry out regular road and bridge rehabilitation.

The Yei-Kaya Road is a strategic national highway linking South Sudan to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo through Morobo County, making it a critical route for trade, transport and regional connectivity.