Ministry of Works employees filling the potholes in Mabira Forest on Monday

By John Semakula

THE Ministry of Works on Monday sealed the potholes at the spot of the accident in which Budiope MP, Henry Balikoowa, died on Sunday.

Over 20 workers spent Monday afternoon filling the potholes and clearing the roadside.

The team, however, only repaired the scene of the accident at Najjembe Picnic Site on Kampala-Jinja highway in Mabira Forest, while other potholes in the neighbourhood remained open.

Potholes are one of the leading causes of road accidents in the country.
Balikoowa , a youthful MP from eastern Uganda, died instantly at about 10:30pm after his car (Land Cruiser Prado ) collided with a tractor.

The car was reduced to mangled metal. It was towed to a nearby Police post.
The driver of the tractor, Emanuel Mambo, of the Lugazi-based Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL) was, reportedly heading to a sugar cane plantation. He fled the scene but was arrested on Monday.

Balikoowa becomes the second MP from the eastern part of the country to die in a road accident after Edward K. Wesonga of Bubulo West, who died at Kigobya in Mukono town council in 2007.
The local leadership of Mabira Forest has, however, expressed disappointment about the emergency repairs.

The Najjembe sub-county chairperson, Juma Isabirye, described filling the potholes as a temporary solution to a big problem.

“The soil in Mabira is soft. That’s why potholes keep resurfacing,” Isabirye said.

He suggested that the section of the highway in Mabira Forest be redone and humps be placed at the demarcated black-spots to check overspeeding.
Isabirye also suggested that the road be widened and a fence-like structure be put along the roadside to prevent vehicles from falling in the valley in case of an accident.

Acting Mukono district engineer John Mugisa said the district was not aware that the Ministry of Works was filling the potholes in Mabira.