MICHAEL N
Residents and road users along the Kyabashenyi–Itereero road are calling for urgent government intervention to rehabilitate the deteriorating road, which they say has greatly hindered transportation of agricultural produce and access to essential services within their communities.
The road has remained in poor condition for years, posing a major challenge to farmers and traders who rely on it to transport goods to nearby markets and trading centers.
In an effort to improve the situation, members of the Kyabashenyi Boda Boda Association this morning carried out a Burungi Bwa’nsi community initiative along the road. The exercise involved filling potholes and digging trenches to divert running water that continues to damage the road surface.
Justus Niwamanya, the Chairperson of the Kyabashenyi Boda Boda Association, said road users constantly face difficulties due to the poor state of the road. He explained that the association resolved to dedicate one Wednesday every month to community work aimed at maintaining the road.
Niwamanya added that for the past five years, the road has never been worked on using a tractor despite falling under the jurisdiction of Nyamunuka Town Council authorities.
Jarious Namuri and Happy Kemigisha, members of the Kyabashenyi Boda Boda Association, revealed that they have spent the last two years organizing such community efforts following the Town Council’s failure to rehabilitate the road.
They noted that as farmers and agricultural traders, the poor road network makes it difficult to transport shop items and agricultural produce to markets and nearby towns including Kahengye, Nyamunuka, Rwashamaire, and even to Rukungiri District.
Mujuni Alex Kaneho, the association’s treasurer, together with Darius Ntahanabo, said the road is the only reliable route that connects them to the main road. They accused local leaders of neglecting their concerns, saying frequent vehicle breakdowns and repair costs forced them to take matters into their own hands through community work.
Abel Kwehangana has appealed to government leaders to intervene by installing culverts in critical sections of the road and deploying a tractor to break the hard rocks that residents cannot manage using hoes during their community work activities.
