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Residents from different villages of Bubongo parish in Kabwoya sub-county, Kikuube district, have called on the government to address the challenge of poor roads and lack of electricity that are hindering development.

The residents claim that they have made several demands to Kikuube district leaders to address the challenges in vain, leaving the local communities suffering with women and children being the most affected.

Speaking in an interview on April 13, Wilberforce Bekunda, one of the residents in Kabango village Kabwoya sub-counties, said that as residents, they petitioned the district leaders to connect the area to the electricity grid in vain, adding most of their areas are not developing due to lack of electricity.

He noted that due to the lack of electricity in the area, the community is failing to engage in businesses such as welding, saloons, popcorn production and bars among others that require electricity.

He noted that some people with good income only use solar which is not sustainable and challenged area Members of Parliament to double efforts in lobbying for which requires electricity connections in these areas.

Bekunda added that the area lacks safe and protected water sources and this forces the locals to share water with wild animals from the swamps.

He noted that one borehole which was constructed 10 years ago broke down and they now have nowhere to get water, adding that the continued consumption of water from unprotected water sources is exposing them to waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid.

Bekunda added that the water crisis has been worsened by Hoima Sugar Limited which disposes of its factory wastes in the area and these wastes contaminate the water which is used by the community.

Oliva Atuhairwe, a farmer and resident of Kabango expressed concern about poor roads in the area saying that poor roads are mostly affecting farmers.

She cited Kiziranfumbi-Mukabara-Kabwoya road which connects to the tarmacked Hoima-Fort Portal road as one of the impassable roads.

Atuhairwe noted that on this road there is a broken bridge which collapsed five months ago, adding it is always difficult to cross on the bridge, affecting the transportation of agricultural goods.

She noted that poor roads in the area are hindering them from accessing social services such as schools, health facilities and markets.

Atuhairwe added that they have demanded the leaders to rehabilitate these roads in vain as leaders complain of lack of funds.

Reacting to the concerns of the locals, Kikuube district women MP Florence Natumanya admitted to the challenges but said that as leaders, they are putting measures in place to see that they provide better services to the communities.

Kikuube district woman MP, Natumanya, promised to engage Hoima sugar LTD to help in working on roads. (Photo by by Peter Abaanabasazi)

On the issue of roads, Natumanya also admitted to the challenges, adding that the Kiziranfumbi-Mukabara-Kabwoya road is in a poor state but the district has no funds to fix it.

She noted that as leaders, they are planning to have an engagement with Hoima Sugar management to help in rehabilitating these roads since the roads are always damaged by their trucks.

On the issue of water, Natumanya said Kikuube District Local Government recently got some funding to connect piped water in the district and this will address the challenge of water crisis in Kabwoya as it is one of the beneficiaries.

She noted that works to lay the pipes recently started, adding that they have hope that soon, water will be provided and people will stop suffering.

Natumanya also added that in the meantime, the leaders are going to talk to Hoima Sugar to stop disposing of wastes anyhow to ensure that the environment remains clean.

On electricity, Natumanya said that the government is in the process of connecting electricity in the area for the people have lights and be able to engage in small-scale business.

She noted that due to inadequate funding, the first priority is going to be given to schools, health facilities without power, and growing trading centres with businesses that require electricity.