MUGABE R
Residents of Rukoni Parish, Rukoni West Sub County, Ntungamo District have expressed dissatisfaction over the breakdown of Rwengwe Bridge.
The bridge, located near the Manywoha family along a river marking the boundary between Rwengwe and Kayanga cells, is maintained by the Sub County.
According to residents, the bridge was damaged by running water a year and a half ago, rendering it dysfunctional and forcing reliance on a temporary diversion.
Guma Amon, a local trader, lamented the negative impact on trade, stating that the bridge’s breakdown has disrupted the connection between traders and consumers to Kyabwatu Trading Centre.
Geresimu Katuriiba, the LC1 Chairperson of Rwengwe Cell, revealed that repeated petitions to Sub County authorities have yielded no action. He stressed that the bridge requires expert rehabilitation to restore its concrete structure, warning that the current temporary diversion poses a drowning risk due to heavy water flow.
Frank Tumwine, the LC3 Chairperson of Rukoni West Sub County, acknowledged the challenge but admitted that no solution has been found, as the bridge requires intervention from the central government.
He attributed the bridge’s complications to strong water currents from the hills, swamp reclamation, and the absence of soil erosion barriers upstream. Tumwine called on NEMA to enforce wetland restoration and promote bamboo planting to control water flow.
