Inadequate funding, lack of road equipment top concerns in Kikuube
District Engineer Emma Arinaitwe said Kikuube lacks critical road-maintenance tools such as compactors, dump trucks, and excavators.
District chairperson Peter Banura said there is a need for external support, stating that the works ministry had promised intervention but was yet to deliver. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
KIKUUBE - Kikuube district faces mounting challenges in maintaining its 1,600km road network due to chronic underfunding and a severe shortage of essential equipment, according to officials.
At a budget planning conference for the financial year 2026/2027, early November 2025, district engineers and leaders exposed critical gaps in machinery and finances, warning that deteriorating roads threaten economic growth and community access to vital services.
District Engineer Emma Arinaitwe said Kikuube lacks critical road-maintenance tools such as compactors, dump trucks, and excavators.
“The district relies on outdated machinery like wheel loaders and graders gifted last year, but these alone cannot handle the workload,” he said.
Arinaitwe emphasised that the district’s shillings 1.258 billion non-wage conditional grant is insufficient to maintain 1,600 km of roads annually.
“Roads need constant upkeep, but we can only afford manual repairs for two months a year due to budget constraints,” he added.
Priority projects for the next fiscal year include rehabilitating the Kisoba-Korobia, Kitoke-Rwetahi-Kemigere-Kituru, Burara-Nyabunende-Kololo, Buhimba-Kyamagigi-Kyeganywa, and Kitagasa-Ruzinga-Kamusunsi-Kyarwensabya roads, which are all in “sorry states” due to neglect. Arinaitwe said hiring private contractors for repairs strains limited funds.
Tourism and revenue challenges
District chairperson Peter Banura said there is a need for external support, stating that the works ministry had promised intervention but was yet to deliver.
He also highlighted low local revenue collection: The district fell short of its shillings 1.5 billion target for 2024–2025, collecting only 800 million. To boost funds, Banura proposed leveraging Kikuube’s tourism potential, including Musaijja Mukuru Hill, Lake Albert, and chimpanzee habitats in Bugoma Forest.
“Physical planning for growing towns could also generate revenue through building permits,” he said.
Agricultural hurdles
Meanwhile, District Production Officer Barnabus Ntume warned that subsistence farming persists due to poor storage, market access, and financing. Though the district aimed to install 58 micro-irrigation systems in 2024–2025, only 52 were completed due to budget shortfalls.
While Hoima Sugar Limited has supported road repairs by contributing to 20km of rehabilitation last year, officials stress that systemic underinvestment threatens progress.