Government Earmarks Shs552m for Repairing Grounded MV Ssese
Government has earmarked Shs552.1 million for repairing MV Ssese, one of the two public passenger and cargo vessels that ply the Kalangala -Bukakkata route on Lake Victoria. The vessel suspended its operations last week to undergo the annual mandatory intermediate docking survey.
For the purpose of rehabilitating the MV Ssese, one of the two public passenger and freight ships that travel the Kalangala-Bukakkata route on Lake Victoria, the government has set up Shs552.1 million. Last week, the ship halted operations in order to complete the yearly required intermediate docking survey.
According to Mr. Joseph Mulindwa, the spokesperson of Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS), a firm managing both MV Ssese and MV Pearl, before taking MV Ssese to Mwanza in Tanzania for dry docking, they will first carry out engine overhaul at Port Bell, Luzira Port bell in Kampala for two weeks.
A dry-dock is machinery that is used to lift ferries and other marine vessels from the water to allow engineers to look beneath the vessel and carry out major renovations.
“Every after two years, we are required by law to do maintenance on our ferries and it is now the turn for MV Ssese,” he said during an interview on Sunday.
“During the absence of MV Ssese, MV Pearl will be available to do all the trips,” he added.
During MV Ssese’s absence, Mr. Mulindwa said, there will be a 30 minutes delay for every trip by MV Pearl, a sister ferry plying the same route.
Under the revised sailing schedule, he said MV Pearl will be leaving Bugoma at 7:15am daily for Bukakkata on Kalangala Island where it will dock at 7:45am for passengers and two trips of 6:30am from Bukakkata and 2:45pm from Bugoma for the dangerous cargo. The ferry will be making 16 routes daily up from eight it was making previously.
On Saturdays, Mr. Mulindwa, said MV Pearl will start sailing at 8am from Bukakkata and end the trips at 4: 45pm from Bugoma.
“We hope to resume to our normal sailing schedule after four weeks when MV Ssese returns from Mwanza,” he added.
Prof John Ssenfuma, the KIS board chairperson, explained the $150,000 (about Shs552.1m) involves a portion for engine overhaul at Port Bell, Luzira, and a dry-docking inspection in Mwanza, Tanzania.
