A Bridge to Belonging: How Communities and Engineers Transformed Lives in Uganda
Peeking out the window of my small plane, a mere thirty hours after I had left New York City, I was finally gazing at the vibrant Pearl of Africa. The stark contrast of orange clay interwoven beneath the luscious greenery of the Rwenzori Mountains beckoned me to explore the serene landscape of Kasese, Uganda — and to meet the wonderful people who call it home.
After a quick day in the bustling city of Kampala, where I indulged in a seemingly endless supply of avocados and the freshest fruit I’d ever tasted, I journeyed westward to meet my team from Engineers Without Borders- East Africa (EWB-EA). At the culmination of my grant writing internship with EWB-EA, I was invited to Uganda to celebrate the inauguration of the iconic, 106-meter Bikone-Nyakabugha pedestrian bridge — a project brought to life through the resilience of the local community and the collaboration of dedicated partners.
The story of the Bikone-Nyakabugha pedestrian bridge is nothing short of extraordinary. Separated by the largest river in the district, the picturesque River Mubuku, the Bikone and the Nyakabugha communities were connected only via man-made crossings made up of a collection of tree trunks. This solution could only take them so far, though. When the river flooded, which happened quite often during the rainy season, it would wipe out their makeshift bridge and leave the two communities disjointed — with the farming and access to food on one side and the facilities (markets, schools, hospitals, etc.) on the other. Even when the river was calm and passable, pregnant women and the elderly struggled to make it from one side to the other to access life-saving care. The two communities have lost over 30 loved ones to River Mubuku.
In partnership with Engineers Without Borders USA and global engineering firm HDR, EWB-EA worked tirelessly over four years to combine global expertise with local knowledge. From district officials and town clerks to local stakeholders and engineers, this united effort ensured that the people of Bikone and Nyakabugha would finally have a safe and permanent way to cross the river.
On February 20th, 2025, I had the immense honor of witnessing the bridge’s opening ceremony — a joyful celebration of what can happen when communities and organizations come together to create sustainable, life-changing solutions. The day overflowed with gratitude, dancing and delicious food. After years of training residents to become engineers and caretakers of the bridge, the team officially handed over its care to the community.
With a full heart and teary eyes, I stood among friends and collaborators, humbled to witness the culmination of this remarkable journey — and to understand, if only for a moment, what the district chairperson meant when he said: “No matter where you are from, when you are here, you are home.”