Africa-Press – Uganda. Residents and local leaders in Butaleja District have asked the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) to fix bridges and roads, which were recently damaged by floods.Although Unra is yet to make a financial assessment of the damage caused by the floods, residents say about 10 roads are impassable.
The affected bridges include Namatala, which connects Butaleja and Budaka, Nakwasi on Mbale-Butaleja road, and Doho Bridge, which connects Mazimasa to Himutu Sub-county.The roads that need rehabilitation include Nabiganda-Nampologoma-Leresi, Butaleja-Budaka, Nabiganda-Naboa, Nabiganda-Himutu and Doho-Namulo.
The floods, which occurred last week, were triggered by heavy rain that has been pounding Mt Elgon Sub-region over the last two months, resulting in the death of one person and displacing hundreds of others in Butaleja. Mr John Hasahya, a boda boda rider, asked the government to come to their rescue and restore the affected roads and bridges.
“Most of the main roads are impassable. The bridges and culverts were either destroyed or washed away by floods. The government should come to our rescue. We have suffered enough,” Mr Hasahya said at the weekend.Ms Mary Kadondi, a businesswoman, said they now incur heavy costs to transport agricultural produce to different markets.
She added that the main road that connects Mbale and Butaleja has been impassable for the past two weeks now.“Some of the culverts on most roads in the district are broken and have been buried by the running water,” she said.District officials say the flood water comes mainly from Mt Elgon and ends up in the area due to its low altitude.The residents also say President Museveni is yet to fulfil his pledge to tarmac Lwangoli-Butaleja-Busolwe-Namutumba and Busolwe-Nangongera roads.
“Mr Museveni’s promise to tarmac roads, which he made in 1993 when the district was still Bunyole County, has never come to pass,” Mr Joseph Wegulo, an elder, said. Mr Hussein Guloba, a resident, said their support to the NRM party has not rewarded them with improved services.“Our district is neglected by the government and our roads are in poor state and nothing has been done,” Mr Guloba said.
Most affected
The district chairperson, Mr Higenyi Michael Bory, said the most affected sub-counties are in low-lying areas.He said there is a need to raise the roads and install several culverts. “This has greatly affected our people. Others have suspended their business because of the current state of the roads,” Mr Higenyi said.The Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Stanely Bayole, asked Unra for immediate intervention to ensure service delivery between Butaleja and the neighbouring districts.
The Unra media relations manager, Mr Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe, said they are waiting for floods to recede and they work on the roads.“We shall reinstate the culverts and other works when the water levels go down but our teams are responsive,” Mr Kyobe said.
