Residents of Omua and Central Wards, Paidha Town Council in Zombo District, have come together to repair the vital Zingili footbridge, which had been in disrepair for several months.
On January 8, 2025, the community mobilised local resources to begin the repair, marking a decisive move after months of unfulfilled promises from the Paidha Town Council.
The footbridge, which connects the inner and outer rings of the business-oriented town, broke down months ago, leaving over 40,000 residents stranded and severely affecting mobility for students and locals.
The lack of the bridge has made it difficult for residents to access key locations such as Christ the King Chapel, Abdeen Mosque, St. Peter’s Church of Uganda, and Paidha Central Market.
Basil Okwong, the LCI chairperson of Entebbe Cell in Omua Ward, expressed frustration with the council’s delay in addressing the issue. “We mobilised 2,000 shillings from each household in our community to repair the footbridge ourselves. If the council can’t help us, we’ll do it on our own,” he said.
On the morning of January 8, young able-bodied youths, along with children and elders, gathered to begin the repair work. Local women contributed by preparing food for the workers to sustain their energy.
Iddi Juma Angili, a resident, appealed for more support from well-wishers to complete the repair. Meanwhile, Festo Muber, also from Entebbe Cell, urged the council to address the poor road conditions in the area to improve mobility for residents.
John Bosco Akaka, an elder who acquired land in the area in 2018, highlighted the community’s ongoing struggles and called for more intervention from the council.
The community also plans to mobilise resources to repair another critical footbridge in the area.
Amos Jacan, the Zombo District Youth Chairperson and LC III candidate for Paidha Town Council in the 2026 elections, supported the initiative by donating nails.
He emphasised the need for leaders to focus on key priorities for the community’s well-being.
Gabriel Okumu, the Member of Parliament for Okoro County, through his campaign manager, Tito Ocamringa, offered monetary support for the repair efforts and called for timely notifications to enable earlier interventions in the future.
Alfred Okecha, the male councillor for Central Ward, attributed the delay in fixing the footbridge to the slow disbursement of funds but commended the patriotic efforts of the local community in stepping up to resolve the issue.
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