Garuka Residents Rally for Road and Bridge Repairs

Editor

Residents of Garuka Cell, located in Kikarara Parish, Bwambara Sub County, Rukungiri District, of Tuesday organized a peaceful demonstration to protest the deplorable condition of the Ahakobushera-Garuka road and Rushaaya Bridge.

The Ahakobushera-Garuka road, stretching approximately 14 kilometers and managed by the District, passes through Garuka Cell, starting at the boundary of Kikarara and Bwambara Parishes and ending at Rushaaya Bridge along Rushaaya River, which marks the boundary of Kikarara and Kyabahanga Parishes.

Residents expressed their urgent need for attention to the road, highlighting its overgrowth with bush and the presence of slippery potholes. They also emphasized the state of Rushaaya Bridge, a lengthy structure composed of wooden poles, which serves a significant population including students, traders, and patients commuting between Bikurungu Town Council and Kihiihi Town Council.

Nahabwe Becker, a resident of Garuka Cell and a student at Bufunda Primary School in Kyabahanga Parish, voiced concerns about the dangers posed during the rainy season when River Rushaaya floods, bringing with it a significant volume of water and potentially hazardous debris, while the stability of the poles supporting the bridge is compromised.

Habakwiya Christine, a middle-aged woman residing in Garuka Cell, highlighted the issue of domestic violence in the area, attributing it to women resorting to family planning out of fear of complications during childbirth due to inadequate transportation facilities.

Twebaze Wilson, the Chairperson of LC1 Garuka Cell, expressed unease over recent incidents of flooding in River Rushaaya, resulting in fatalities, and voiced concerns about the likelihood of such events recurring.

Kakwaya Ephraim, the NRM Chairperson for Kikarara Parish, revealed that the condition of Rushaaya Bridge has caused division among NRM supporters and mobilizers in the area.

Ms. Katusiime Scovia, the Sub County Woman Councilor representing Kikarara Parish, expressed dissatisfaction, highlighting the risks faced by students and expectant mothers who rely on River Rushaaya for transportation.