Visit the Elections website for such election related stories

By Ronaldo Kule


Residents of Eghomba village in Karambi sub-county, Kasese district are demanding for the repair of their broken Kyabayenze Bridge before the 2016 general elections.


The residents are also warning that if there is no any sign of construction works by end of this month, they will cast their votes to opposition leaders who they think can pressurise the Government to address their prolonged demands.


They say they are fed up of the unfulfilled pledges made by the Government for the last 30 years to rehabilitate the said bridge with the recent pledge made by the minister for works and transport Eng. John Byabagambi.


The Eghomba LC1 chairperson, Kefa Bwambale, says at least 14 people, including two school children have died as a result of drowning in the Kyabayenze broken bridge for the last 20 years,"Kefa explains.


Kyabayenze Bridge is the only link that connects about 400 school children from sub - counties of Karambi, Bwera and the neighbouring areas to Kitholhu Secondary School in Kitholhu sub-county that nears DR Congo eastern border.

  A boda boda crossing Kyabayenze Bridge. Picture by Ronaldo Kule

Our reporter caught up with Muzigiti Geoffrey a Senior Four student at Kitholhu Secondary School, who said they struggle a lot to cross the said bridge, especially when it has over flooded.


He says sometimes they are forced to return back to their homes whenever they find the water levels at Kyabayenze water channel high, Muzigiti explains.


Bonifasi Kalamali, a businessman in the area, also says that it's so costly to transport their merchandise from Mpondwe Lhubiriha marketto their rural communities.


While addressing a rally at Kisolholho trading centre yesterday, the Defense Minister and Bukonzo West MP Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga, said the construction works on the said sh6.7b bridge have been delayed by the Ishasha bridge construction in Kanungu district.


Kiyonga said the machines that are supposed to work on Kyabayenze Bridge are still working on the Ishasha Bridge, which he said is due for completion this month.


In July last year, while inspecting the damaged bridges by the June floods in Kasese, the minister for works Byabagambi confirmed construction works on four damaged bridges in Kasese district at a tune of sh21b.


Since then, only two bridge Nyamugasana and Ruboni bridges are theones currently under construction.

Visit the Elections website for such election related stories