Rukungiri – On 21st December 2018, the president for the republic of Uganda H E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commissioned the construction of the 78.5km Rukungiri-Kihiihi-Ishasha/ Kanungu road which would connect western Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo Via Ishasha Bridge.
The Shs 207.8b road project was co-funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Uganda under the Road Sector Support Project V (RSSP V) were ADB contributed 85.12 percent of the funding with Uganda topping up 14.89 percent and project was constructed to China Henan International Corporation under the supervision of Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) as the implementer.
The project was to be done in two parts which included civil works for the upgrading of the existing gravel surface road from Rukungiri to Ishasha (52.2km) and Kanungu to North of Kihihi (26.3km) to Bitumen Standard with Carriageway width of 7 meters and 2 meters wide paved shoulders.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of this road which was held at Kanungu Town Council playground in Kanungu district , the president asked the people of Rukungiri and Kanungu districts to use the road protectively once completed .
“Make sure you take good use of this road because this road is here for own development. So use the little land and resources to gain more by plant tea, coffee and fruits in order to benefit from the NRM developments.” Mr Museveni said.
However the construction of this road has negatively affected the rehabilitation of other central roads that connect Rukungiri district to the neighboring districts of Kanungu, Mitooma and Rukiga.
The roads in question are Rukungiri to Kanungu through Nyakagyeme sub-county and Rwerere town council all in Rukungiri district to Kanungu district, Rubabo road which links Rukungiri to Kanungu and Rukiga district through Nyakagyeme sub- county also, Kebisoni to Kisiize road which connects Rukungiri to Rukiga district also and Rukungiri to Mitooma road which connects Rukungiri to Mitooma district through Buhunga sub- county in Rukungiri district.
The current situation of these roads is immotorable since most of them are full of pot holes , water collecting places for some locals, grazing places since they are brushy and some of them have turned into bleeding places of wild animals like snakes.
The roads are not only immotorable but have also turned into hiding places of wrong dores who take hide in bushes and it seems like the central government abandoned them yet they also serve Ugandans who also pay taxes and who deserve to be served like others.
In a telephone interview with our reporter, the minister of Security who doubles as the Rujumbura county Member of Parliament Rtd Maj.Gen. Jim Muhwezi accused UNRA for failing to meet its obligations of maintaining a number of roads in the district a thing he said to be affecting service delivery .
” Its true we badly needed Rukungiri to Kanungu tarmac road but UNRA should know that they are other roads which belongs to central government and they need to be maintained because the construction of Rukungiri to Kanungu tarmac road, the other UNRA roads are now impassable following the heavy rains hit our district few months ago, for sure the state of these other roads that belong to the central government is worse “. Minister Muhwezi said.
The Minister who is also the chairperson of Rukungiri district roads committee said the road from Rukungiri – Kanungu has been abandoned by UNRA yet the road is mostly used by farmers to transport their agricultural products saying that the state of this road has worsened and the locals are now accusing the district leadership for the neglect.
‘’Am cut off and my fellow Minister Dr Chris is also cut off because we use this road to reach our homes. I informed these UNRA people of kabale about this road and I thought that were going to intervene. In short UNRA is not serious that’s why we are going to remove it from operations’’ Minister Muhwezi added.
The Minister added ‘’ Rukungiri – Kanungu road connects different people to different service providing centers like schools, churches, health centers. So I think UNRA needs to come on board and give a clear explanation on why this road has been abandoned yet it is also important to us as the people of Rukungiri and Kanungu district.
The Rubabo county Member of parliament Mr Naboth Namanya said he has informed UNRA people about the poor state of the Kebisoni- Kisiizi several times road but in vain.
‘’ These UNRA people are not serious.I have informed them about the sorry state of their roads in the district several times but they have totally failed to work on them. They should know that they are other roads in the district which needs rehabilitation and I think that’s why they are being removed from operation “. Mr Namanya said.
The Rukungiri district vice chairperson Ms Satrina Nahwera says that UNRA has for the good years failed to work on Rukungiri – Mitooma road yet they well know that this road connects Rukungiri to Mitooma district and our people are using it to transport their produces to market centers in the two districts.
The current situation of the one of Central government roads in Rukungiri district.photo by Ronald Kabanza.
‘’This road is very important because it connects Rukungiri – Mitooma district but as I talk this road is very bad state. They came and worked on it I think like 3 years back since then they have never returned. ‘’ Ms Nahwera said.
Ms Nahwera added” they think when they constructed Rukungiri to Kanungu tarmac road, every other central government road was worked on.They are not serious at all “.
Some of the residents of who spoke with our reporter about the state of UNRA roads in the district decried the sorry state of the these roads saying that they have greatly hindered the development of the district in terms of transport.
“UNRA should consider renovating these roads because they have taken a long time minus being worked on” Mugisha Alex and Kizza Justus both boda boda raiders in Rukungiri district said.
Our efforts of getting a comment from from the Manager of UNRA Kigezi region Eng Alison Abenado failed since she couldn’t answer calls that were given to her by our reporter.
they have taken a long time minus being worked on” Mugisha Alex and Kizza Justus both boda boda raiders in Rukungiri district said.
The Rukungiri district roads Engineer Julius Bagyira tired to defend UNRA people but this did not satisfy the meeting and they kept on accusing UNRA for failing to work on the road.
Our efforts of getting a comment from from the Manager of UNRA Kigezi region Eng Alison Abenado failed since she could answer calls that were given to her by our reporter.
