By: Intern Student
Residents and road users in Rukungiri District have raised serious concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Rukungiri-Ntungamo road, citing extensive potholes that are affecting transport and increasing the risk of accidents.
Joseph Beyongyera, a taxi driver operating along the Rukungiri-Mbarara route, expressed frustration over the time delays caused by the poor state of the road. “We used to take three hours, but now we drive for five hours due to the bad sections like Rwabigangula, Kabekakye Buyanja to Kebisoni, and from Kahengye to Rwashamire,” he said.
Beyongyera attributed the recent rise in accidents to the hazardous potholes and revealed that many drivers are increasingly avoiding the route to safeguard their lives. He called upon government authorities to intervene immediately, suggesting a temporary solution such as filling the potholes.
Saul Tuhame, a motorcycle rider from Rukungiri to Buyanja, voiced his concern about a specific pothole at St. Paul Katojo in Buyanja, warning that it poses a major risk especially when two or more vehicles attempt to dodge it simultaneously.
In response to the concerns, Engineer Alison Abenawe, the head of roads and transport in Kabale District, told our reporter that work on potholes from Ntungamo to Rwashamire has already been done and repairs are ongoing on other sections stretching towards Rukungiri. He urged road users to remain calm as efforts to fix the road are underway.
Engineer Abenawe further revealed that the Department of Roads and Transport has plans to include road remarking in the upcoming financial year.
