Relief as 66km of Hoima roads rehabilitated
The upgrades, completed in two phases, authorities say, have revitalised critical routes, benefitting farmers and residents alike.
Hoima district boss Uthuman Mugisha with the members of the executive committe monitoring one of the rehabiritated roads. (Photo by Abaanabasazi)
________________
Hoima District has eased the transportation of agricultural products and community access to social services by rehabilitating 66 kilometres of previously unmotorable roads for shillings 390 million.
The upgrades, completed in two phases, authorities say, have revitalised critical routes, benefitting farmers and residents alike.
Hoima’s works supervisor Eng. Vincent Irumba detailed the progress. According to him, in the first quarter (2025/2026): Roads, including Kyarubanga-Bukerenge (3km), Kisabagwa-Bugandale (10km) and Kigorobya-Waaki (7.2km) were repaired at shillings 180 million.
In the fourth quarter (2024/2025): Roads like Kitoba-Kyabasengya-Kaboijana (15km), Kyeramya-Kiganja-Ndaragi (6km), Kihambya-Kyabanati-Miramira (10km), and Buraru-Wagesa (13km) were fixed at shillings 210 million.
Funding for these projects comes from the government’s annual allocation of 1 billion shillings per district for road maintenance.
“Each quarter, the district receives 250 million shillings. Part of this covers equipment repairs and fuel for our machinery,” Irumba explained.
Despite progress, Irumba highlighted a critical issue: The district’s wheel loader, a key tool for laying gravel (marram) and creating drainage channels, has mechanical problems.
“We’re awaiting funds in the second quarter to fix it. Once operational, we’ll complete these tasks,” he said.
More resources needed
Hoima LC5 chairperson Uthaman Mugisha Mubarak praised the works department for rehabilitating sections of the road network. However, he noted persistent challenges in sub-county roads due to insufficient funding.
“Communities blame district leaders for poor sub-county roads, but we need more resources to address these,” he said.
Mugisha announced upcoming projects for the second quarter, including repairs to Buraru-Kibari-Ngagi, Kakindo-Kasomoro-Nyamirima, and Mparangasi-Kyabigambire roads.
He urged farmers to boost productivity: These roads are useless if communities don’t produce enough to transport. Let’s farm more and use these roads to access markets and improve incomes.
Collins Bagonza, a farmer from Kisabagwa-Katikara village, said: We can now easily reach markets, health centres, and schools. Before, poor roads forced us to sell crops cheaply to middlemen.
Godwin Kasigwa of Kisabagwa echoed this, calling the repairs a “big relief.”
He added, “The Kisabagwa-Bugandale road was once impassable. Now, transporting produce is manageable, and we’re grateful to the district for this intervention.”