RESIDENTS PROTEST OVER RUKUNGIRI -KANUNGU ROAD SORRY STATE

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukungiri—

Residents of Rukungiri and Kanungu districts both in Kigezi sub- region are protesting against the increasingly deteriorating state of the Rukungiri-Kanungu road.

Sections of the road have been in a poor state for more than four months. The road has potholes and poor drainage in addition to being stony. The situation is worsened by the heavy rains pounding the region.

Monday Kamugisha, a road user says that the authorities have kept a deaf ear about the state of the road. He says heavy rains being experienced coupled with the heavy trucks that ply the route have left it messy and impassable.

“The leaders are aware but they have failed to respond to our problems. Cyclists have increased transport fares. About 2 months back one would pay 20000 shs. from Rukungiri to Kanungu but nowadays we go up to 35000- 40000 shs. due to the poor state of the road” Kamugisha said.

Simon Nuwagaba, a Boda Boda cyclist in Rukungiri town appeals to Uganda National Roads Authority- UNRA to intervene and carry out maintenance works to ensure normal traffic flow resumes mostly in these day when the country is entering into festival season of Christmas or else many are going to lose their lives due to accidents.

“Our lives are at a great risk, we may loss lives because of the poor state of this road. The whole road is full of potholes and stones. Just for a single ride from Rukungiri- Kanungu, one spends 20000shs in garage and 25000 is spent on fuel but formerly we spend 15000 shs on fuel and this has forced us to hike transport fares from 20000shs- 40000 shs not because of Christmas but poor state of the road” Nawagaba. Said.

“Transporting patients or any other commodity is tag of war, the road is in a sorry state. We have been informing our leaders but they have failed to respond to our problems” Agaba said.

Umar Mugisha, Boda Boda rider in Kanungu district says that in last campaigns, the leaders pledged to improve the roads in the area, but up to date, nothing has been done. He says that the leaders should immediately resolve the problem or face a vote of no confidence.

Engineer Alison Abenado Twine, the UNRA) Station Engineer in Kigezi region calls for patience saying that they are yet to get a contractor for the road works.

“We are also overwhelmed by work load, the region is too big and we are trying our level best to work on the roads. Due to heavy rains, roads are all in sorry state but we call for patience as we work on your roads,” Eng.Alison said.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106