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Local leaders and residents in Kanungu district are urging the government to accelerate the rehabilitation of tourism roads in the area.
Joshua Rukundo, the Kanungu district secretary for production, emphasizes that with the reduced rainfall, the Minister of Works should reconsider the directive in the letter addressed to districts, halting the use of one billion shillings allocated for road maintenance.
Rukundo believes that reversing this decision will enable the district to upkeep some tourism roads, even though the initial commitment was to asphalt them, as pledged by the president.
Frank Byaruhanga, the Kanungu district speaker representing Mpungu sub-county with tourism sites, highlights that the poor condition of tourism roads has led to a decline in tourist numbers, impacting revenue collection in places like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla tracking.
District chairpersons in the Kigezi Sub-region are also collaborating to exert pressure on the government for the tarmacking of tourism roads. Certain roads connecting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are currently in disrepair, causing transportation issues, especially during the rainy season.
Given that the tourism sector is a major revenue generator for the Kigezi Sub-region and the country as a whole, these leaders emphasize the urgency of government action in addressing the road infrastructure challenges.
Previously, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Chris Baryomusi, assured district leaders that relief would come once the government allows the use of the one billion shillings allocated to each district for road maintenance.
