VANESSA A
Residents of Rwakyirenzi and Kakanena 2 cells, Kakanena Parish, Rugarama North Subcounty, Ntungamo District, decry the poor state of the Kagaga–Rwakyirenzi road amidst communal works.
It is reported that this road is in a swampy area and connects three cells — Rwakyirenzi, Kakanena 2, and Kasana Cell in Kagongi Parish — making it difficult for people from the above cells to transport their produce to marketplaces.
After a long time of calling for help from the government and receiving no response, the NRM Councilor Flag Bearers for Kakanena Parish, Sylvia Twesigye and Byarugaba Johnson Binayisa, after being reached out to by residents on the poor state of the road, took the initiative of mobilizing people for communal work.
They further revealed to our reporter that the road had not been attended to for some time and had deteriorated, making it hard for communal work. They said they need the help of the top district leadership as they require pipes and trenches to make transportation smooth and enable people to develop themselves.
Area LC1 Chairpersons of the two cells — Rutaro Frank of Kakanena 2 and Francis Kabarinda of Rwakyirenzi — showed their frustration, saying this road still connects to two primary schools, Kasana and Ruhega, but the rains have left it impassable, making it hard for residents to repair.
They further revealed how people find it hard to transport their produce to marketplaces like Kyibarara and Omukyitengye, citing that Kyomukama Johnson has a fish pond there, plus coffee and banana plantation farmers who face transportation challenges, calling upon the government to help them.
LC1 NRM Flag Bearer David Behangana of Kakanena 2 Cell and residents of the two cells — Ninsima Besigye and Johnson Kyomukama, who has a fish pond in the area — echoed their voices on the same. They said the road has many developmental projects like coffee, and since transportation is not good, they have to first carry produce in sacks up to where boda bodas and cars can reach.
They further highlighted how rehabilitating this road has become hard for them, calling upon the government through their leaders to help them.
Those who were working on the road communally, and at the same time residents of Kakanena Parish — Mugisha Yonasani, Elias Nagamba, Nareba Elias, and Nelson Niwamanya, a boda boda rider — revealed how difficult it is to use hoes in working on the road that has gone a long time without maintenance due to heavy rains and lack of funds. They called for action from the government to at least give them a tractor.
They further highlighted how they have turned people’s coffee and banana plantations into roads after lacking a route to use, saying they are really badly off as they have no funds as locals to get a tractor privately to work on the road.
However, speaking to the Chairperson LC5 Ntungamo District, Sam Mucunguzi emphasized the use of communal work always among residents and advised them to write to the district officials and see if they can be of help by giving them a tractor and some fuel, as they have helped many after communal work has failed them.
