The Japanese government has pledged financial support to construct a new bridge over the River Nile to replace the old one at Owen Falls Dam in Jinja. At least $50m is needed to build the new bridge, according to the Ministry of Works.

This was disclosed by the Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, during a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, held every five years since 1993.

The bridge is a link for tourists visiting the source of River Nile and those interested in water tourism activities such as white water rafting .The bridge will also serve as Uganda’s link to Kenya and the coast. Other countries that will depend on it for access to the sea will be Rwanda, Burundi and the DR Congo.

The existing bridge is 54 years old and has developed cracks.