FARMERS FACE LOSSES AFTER FLOODS SUBMERGE KYARUSHONGYERA BRIDGE IN RUKUNGIRI DISTRICT

By Ronald Kabanza

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukungiri

Floods have submerged Kyarushongyera Bridge in Nyarushanje sub- County Rukungiri district affecting the transportation of agricultural produce to market centers and movement of residents.

The affected parishes are well known for the production of milk and bananas that are majorly consumed by town people in Kebisoni, Buyanja and Rukungiri town.

The half kilometer bridge connects Bwega parish to Burora parish in Nyarushanje sub- County as well Burora to Bunono parishes in the same sub- county.

The footbridge also connects Kigina, Burora, Bunono  primary schools and Burora church of Uganda in the same sub- county. However the bridge has been submerged for the past two weeks resulting from flooding brought by heavy rains.

Residents say Nyarushanje sub- County and the district authorities have not come to their rescue.

Barnard Kamugisha and Goddie Taremwa both residents of Bwage parish and cattle keepers say although the problem has lasted for the past two weeks the situation worsened yesterday afternoon following the heavy rains that hit the area for over 4 hours.

 Kamugisha adds that he has spent 4 days without taking milk to the dairy saying that he is now stuck with over 120 liters of milk saying that the government should intervene as quick as possible such that the problem is solved before the situation goes out of hands.

Wallen Magaba and Ronald Byaruhanga both residents of Burora parish say the district engineer visited the bridge sometime back and promised to upgrade it but up to date nothing has been done.

Shallon  Atuheire also a resident of Burora at the same time a farmer says that she finds it difficult when it comes to transportation of her agricultural produce saying that she is now forced to a long route through Bunono trading center to reach the market center in Nyarushanje trading center which is very expensive.

Michael Musime, the LCIII chairperson Nyarushanje sub- county called for calmness saying that the sub- county is trying all it can to have the problem solved adding that he also informed the district Engineer about the same issue.

Julius Bagira, the district engineer told our reporter that the issue of this footbridge was discussed in yesterday’s district departmental meeting saying that their problem will be worked on as soon as possible attributing the delayed upgrade of the bridge to heavy rains that have destroyed roads making the department overwhelmed by repeated rehabilitation.

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