Senior Reporter
Member of Parliament for Bufumbira North, Honorable John Kamara Nizeyimana, has expressed concerns about the government’s approach to bridge maintenance, which he sees as reactive rather than proactive in preventing disasters.
His comments were prompted by the allocation of 600 million shillings for the reconstruction of the Kanyamateke Box Culvert Bridge in Busanza Sub County, connecting Buhozi parish to Nyabwishenya and Kirundo sub-counties, which had been vandalized.
Kamara pointed out that funds for the Kanyamateke Bridge had been included in the budget on multiple occasions but were consistently diverted to other bridge projects. While he acknowledged the recent release of funds, he emphasized that it might not be sufficient to cover the full scope of the project.
District engineer Karamira James provided additional information, revealing that the government had allocated only 600 million shillings out of the required 2.5 billion shillings for the Kanyamateke Bridge.
Kamara also drew attention to a previous incident involving the destruction of Kaku Bridge on Busanza Road in 2018, allegedly by LC3 chairperson Muntuki Didas and others. He claimed that funds meant for another project, Kagandi Bridge, were redirected to reconstruct Kaku Bridge.
Regarding UNRA’s report on completed bridges, Kamara disputed the existence of a Kagandi Bridge in Kisoro, asserting that the funds were diverted from a different project to address the issues with Kaku Bridge.
Honorable Kamara urged the community to remain patient as the district formulated plans to address impassable roads due to persistent rain. He highlighted the challenges faced by tractors working during heavy rainfall and discussed the district’s receipt of over 500 million shillings from the Ministry of Works and Transport for road maintenance.
In a brief discussion with the MP and Chief Administrative Officer Badru Mayanja, District Engineer Karamira James highlighted the district’s comprehensive plan to guide all road maintenance efforts, with a focus on busy roads.
