Residents decry poor state of Kabale-Kisoro road

ROADS   INFRASTRUCTURE

RUBANDA - The poor state of Kabale-Kisoro road particularly at Hakagyezi in Hamurwa sub-county, Rubanda district, has angered residents and users. 

At Hakagyezi, there is a huge pothole. It takes time for a car or even a motorcycle to navigate through it. That particular spot gets even messier when it rains. 

Motorcycle riders and their passengers are forced off their motorbikes - they push them through the water-filled large hole.

It is even more cumbersome for heavy trucks transporting goods, they have to be more careful to avoid causing an accident.

Locals say the road has been in a sorry state for close to three weeks. With the increasing rains, it is becoming worse every day that passes by.

The road is used by trucks going to the borders of Kyanika and Bunagana in Kisoro district. Buses, taxis and other motor vehicles use the same road.

Residents are worried that if this road is not repaired as soon as possible, they are headed for tragedy.

According to Allan Musoke, a truck driver who deals in maize from Kyenjojo to Kisoro district, the road has had diverse effects on their businesses as they have also encountered unexpected vehicle damages.

Francis Betonda, a taxi driver on Kabale-Kisoro road said that their businesses are at great risk due to the poor state of the road.

Catherine Twesigomwe, another resident said that pregnant women suffer a lot while going to the nearby Muko and Hamurwa Health Centres.

The Kabale-Kisoro road is one of the country's most scenic routes. It passes through an extensive bamboo forest, as well as the "Kanaba Gap", where a clear view of the volcanoes in Rwanda can be seen. It is not surprising that the road is favourite for both tourists and locals alike.

This Northern Corridor Route acts as Uganda's main transport artery to and from the Port of Mombasa in Kenya. It is also a vital link to the Indian Ocean for neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to information from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the construction of the 100km road commenced in 2007 and was completed in 2012.  

Initially, the project was projected to cost $90m around (sh336.9b), but the original designs were changed, increasing the cost to $140m (over sh524b).

The Government of Uganda then received a loan from the African Development Fund towards the cost of the Road Sector Support Project 1. A portion of this fund was used for the upgrading of the Kabale-Kisoro gravel road to paved (bitumen) standard.

The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) was the implementing agency for the scheme, which was constructed by SBI International Holdings, AG. 

SBI is part of an international construction and development group that specialises in large scale housing and commercial building, roads, tunnels, bridges, airports and other infrastructure projects.

Allan Ssempebwa, the UNRA media relations manager said that the authority is aware of the road destruction and they have already embarked on the process to have the challenge addressed.