Hoima city residents want broken bridges, roads fixed
Jan 16, 2024
Speaking via the phone on Monday, Hoima City Mayor Brian Kaboyo called on the residents to remain calm saying roads and the broken bridges will soon be fixed.
John Tumusiime one of the resident from Ruyanja village carrying his bicycle as he crossed broken bridge at Wambabya River. (Photos by Peter Abaanabasazi)
Peter Abaanabasazi
Journalist @New Vision
_______________________ one of the resident crossing the broken bridge at Wambabya River recently(1)
Local leaders and residents of Hoima City's west division are demanding the rehabilitation of poor roads and fixing of damaged bridges. The residents say now is the ideal time for the exercise considering that the rainy season has stopped.
They say Hoima city council leaders have been using rain as an excuse to delay rehabilitation of roads and fix bridges that were washed away by heavy rains.
George Kirya, the councilor of Kibingo ward, expressed concern over the delayed fixing of a broken bridge at Wambabya River. This bridge, which connects Kasanga village and Ruyanja village, was washed away in October last year but it has never been fixed leaving people stranded.
Kirya said Hoima City Council leaders promised to work on the broken bridge during the dry season. According to him, the rains stopped in December last year but city leaders have not shown any sign of working on it.
“People risk their lives to cross this bridge every day because they have no other option. Three bodaboda riders who recently risked to cross fell into the running water, but they were rescued by residents. Unfortunately, one of the riders died later,” he said.
John Tumusiime, a resident of Ruyanja, said the delayed fixing of the bridge is affecting their business because they are unable to cross to another.
He noted that the challenge is hindering the residents from accessing social services such as health facilities, markets, and their business premises.
“I'm wondering why they are not working on the bridge since the rains stopped a long time ago,” he said.
Remain calm
Speaking via the phone on Monday, Hoima City Mayor Brian Kaboyo called on the residents to remain calm saying roads and the broken bridges will soon be fixed.
On the issue of the bridge at Wambabya River, Kaboyo said the Government recently released sh500m out of the one billion that it gives out to districts and cities to rehabilitate roads. Wambaya said with the availability of the money, they expect work to start in the next week.
He said the city has road equipment and that they are in the process of hiring the machines and paying the service providers, buying fuel and other materials.
According to him, the sh500m is also going to be used to rehabilitate several roads in the city such as Kyakadongo, Kyarwabyamba-Kyadikyo, Kasasa-Kasingo, and Kicwamba-Butebere.
It should be remembered that last year in November the works minister Katumba Wamala issued directives instructing district and city leaders and engineers not to use the shillings one billion, which the Government earmarked for districts and cities across the country for road rehabilitation during the rainy season.
He advised them to wait and start using the money after the rains. According to him, using the money during the rainy season would be a waste of money since they would get destroyed easily.
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