KABALE, UGANDA: The deletion of the Katuna-Butanda-Muko road from among other roads that the government planned to tarmacked in the 2023/2024 financial year has sparked anger and protests among the residents and local leaders in Ndorwa West, Kabale District accusing the government of making empty promises.
The much-awaited proposed upgrade of a 60-kilometre Muko-Katuna road was a pledge made by President Yoweri Museveni during campaigns that preceded the 2016 general election.
The promise which is yet to be fulfilled has been used by several leaders including the Ndorwa West Member of Parliament David Bahati in the guise of following it up for their political missions.
The residents blamed the delayed road works on politicizing all the government projects and corruption and demanded that government expedites plans of ensuring that the road is worked on.
Cipriano Byomuhangi a resident of Kabirago village, Rubaya Sub County, the Rubumba parish council in Kahungye Sub County Jackline Atuhaire, Joab Kumita, Elasmus Katongore and Africano Ssekanyambo expressed dissatisfaction about the government’s delay to upgrade the road that connects Ndorwa West and part of Rubanda District to the markets.
The Kahungye Sub County Chairperson John Besigye Kabengye proposed that there should be a supplementary budget specifically to cater for the upgrade of the road since the president has overstayed.
Speaking today during the celebrations of the belated International Women’s Day at Rubaya Primary School Pray ground in Kahungye Sub County, the area MP who also doubles as the Minister of State for Trade, Industries and Cooperatives Hon David Bahati asked people to remain patient as they follow up the process for the upgrade of the said road.
Bahati assured residents and leaders that the government has already secured 150 million dollars from the African Development Bank to upgrade the road.
In 2021, during the road mapping, the UNRA director in charge of road maintenance Joseph Otimu said that all roads and the ferries that were planned to be worked on in National Development Plan-NDPIII will be completed by the end of 2026 and the procurement process will end next year.
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: [email protected] Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.
