The Ministry of Works and Transport has resumed rehabilitation works on several sections of the Kabale-Ntungamo Highway in Kabale and Rukiga districts after months of abandonment. The highway, which was upgraded by Reynolds Construction Company for 198.26 billion shillings and completed in 2015, has developed several deteriorated sections over the years.
About one and a half years ago, the Ministry of Works and Transport initiated spot repairs on damaged sections, including Rwesasi and Kyobugombe in Kaharo Sub-county, Kabale District. Similar rehabilitation works were also launched at Habufureka, Nyabirerema and Nyakanengo in Muhanga Town Council, Rukiga District, as well as Mukenyaanya in Rushenyi, Ntungamo District.
However, after removing the top layer of the tarmac, the contractors abandoned the sites before completing the works. Construction teams briefly returned in November 2025 during President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s campaign tour of the Kigezi sub-region, but left shortly afterwards, leaving the affected sections in a worse condition.
The prolonged abandonment of the works prompted complaints from residents and local leaders in Kabale and Rukiga districts. They said the unfinished sections had created dangerously narrow stretches where motorists and motorcyclists were forced to compete for limited road space. They also warned that the excavated portions had become major bottlenecks, increasing the risk of road crashes.
A visit by our reporter on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, found workers wearing uniforms bearing the logo of China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) carrying out rehabilitation works on several sections of the highway.
Workers were seen at Habufureka, located along the border of Kabale and Rukiga districts, as well as at Kyobugombe and Kabaraga hills in Kaharo Sub-county, Kabale District. Alison Twine Abenawe, the Ministry of Works and Transport’s Kabale Station Manager, confirmed that rehabilitation works had resumed.
Abenawe said CRCC had been contracted to carry out the rehabilitation works and that the project extends up to Katuna. She, however, declined to provide further details, saying she was busy on duty.
Peter Ayebare, a road user, welcomed the resumption of the works, saying the abandoned sections had become dangerous due to frequent accidents. He urged the Ministry to ensure that the works are completed without further delays.
Moses Tugumisirize, a boda boda rider at Bukinda Stage, also welcomed the resumption of the works, although he attributed it to possible pressure on the Ministry.
Tugumisirize speculates that the works could have resumed because the Ministry was concerned that Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara could make a surprise visit to Kigezi and question officials about the prolonged abandonment of the road works-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
