Road inspection turns into ordeal as ministers abandon vehicles on Wanale hill
Local government ministers Balaam Barugahara and Justine Nameere had travelled to inspect the 6km Bukingara-Budwale road in Budwale subcounty, Mbale
The State Minister of Local Government Justine Nameere Nsubuga (2nd R) being supported by her security detail to walk over a slippery terrain as she descended the hill in Mbale district on July 18th. Meanwhile, in the background is fog. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)
MBALE - Local government minister Balaam Barugahara and local government state minister Justine Nameere Nsubuga were briefly stranded on the slippery slopes of Wanale Hill in Mbale district after their vehicles became stuck while inspecting a poorly constructed road.
The ministers were forced to abandon their vehicles and continue the journey on foot.
Barugahara and Nameere had travelled to inspect the 6km Bukingara-Budwale road in Budwale subcounty, Mbale district, on July 18.
The road reportedly received sh300m, but the work carried out fell far below the required standard.
The ministers, accompanied by Bungokho North MP Shafiga Wanyenya, Bungokho Central MP Mukhamudu Masaba, Mbale chief administrative officer Angela Akiror, LC5 chairperson Tonny Magale, the resident district commissioner and other local leaders, inspected the road from its starting point at Boda to its end.
The Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara (C) joined by MPs, Ministry and Mbale district officials in inspecting the Bukingara-Budwale 6km road stretch on July 18th. Its alleged that sh300m was spent on construction of the road but the work done was shoddy. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)
Nabende recounted that on one occasion, he found the engineer spreading soil instead of murram on the road and questioned him. The engineer reportedly responded arrogantly that he knew what he was doing and dismissed Nabende.
The delegation also witnessed first-hand how the road becomes impassable whenever it rains, a situation the ministers observed during their inspection.
As they returned through Bukingara and passed Boda, thick fog suddenly enveloped the area, making it difficult to see ahead or behind, particularly along the steep slopes of Wanale hill.
Heavy rain then fell, turning the road into a slippery surface. Fearing their vehicles might skid into the valley below, the ministers and other officials got out of their vehicles once the rain eased and continued on foot.
A section of the Bukingara-Budwale 6km road stretch. Its alleged that sh300m was spent on construction of the road but the work done was shoddy. (Credit: Donald Kiirya)
The ministers' vehicles, together with police escort vehicles, also struggled to climb the steep, slippery hill.
Barugahara said the government had allocated sh300m for the road to be surfaced with murram, but they found that only soil had been used, with no murram or proper compaction.
He added that the road had no culverts or drainage.
He directed police, led by the deputy regional police commander for Elgon Region, Peter Twala, to arrest the district engineer and record his statement.
Nameere strongly condemned the tendency by some government officials to provide poor services while pocketing taxpayers' money, saying such individuals deserved to be prosecuted.
She also urged the Mbale district chief administrative officer, Angela Akiror, to redirect some of the unutilised funds towards road works before returning the balance to the Treasury so that services reach the people as intended.
Later, the ministers and other leaders continued inspecting other roads and projects before holding a baraza at Mbale Division Council headquarters.