Residents in Luwero District are bracing for worsening transport challenges as heavy rains raise fears that already-damaged roads could become impassable. Luwero District has a road network stretching 2,723.7 kilometres, but a majority of the roads are currently characterized by deep potholes, muddy sections and poor drainage.
Among the roads in poor condition are Wobulenzi-Katikamu-Sekamuli, Luwube-Gulama, Naluvule-Kikoza, Lukomera-Kigorooba-Kyalugondo, Bamugolodde-Kyawangabi-Nakakono and Lutuula-Namatogonya-Busebwe, among others.
Ronald Israel Kakande, the district councillor for Katikamu Sub-county, says some of the roads have gone for more than 10 years without maintenance, leaving them in a sorry state. Kakande says the onset of the rains could worsen the situation, with some communities potentially being cut off after culverts collapse and road sections develop deeper potholes.
He says residents are already worried that continued rainfall could leave key routes submerged or severely damaged, cutting off communities from schools, health centres and markets.
Paul Katende, a teacher at Tweyanze Primary School, says sections of the Wobulenzi-Katikamu-Sekamuli road are already difficult to pass and could become completely impassable if the rains intensify. On Monday, the district launched the rehabilitation of the 12-kilometre Wobulenzi-Katikamu-Sekamuli road at an estimated cost of 96 million shillings.
The works will include bush clearing, grading, shaping and the installation of culverts to improve drainage and make the road more accessible, particularly during the rainy season.
Luwero District LC5 Chairman Erastus Kibirango says the district will use quarterly releases to carry out routine maintenance on three roads during the current quarter, after receiving only 250 million shillings.
Kibirango says the roads earmarked for construction and maintenance include Bukembya-Nankusubwaki, Wobulenzi-Katikamu-Sekamuli and Kikyusa-Kyampologoma-Ndalike.
He says the district does not have enough funds to carry out spot improvements or routine maintenance on all the roads in need of repair, adding that residents may have to rely on favourable weather conditions to keep the roads passable.
Luwero District Engineer Robert Kalenzi says budget constraints have limited the district’s plans to conduct routine maintenance and spot improvements on only 100 kilometres of roads during the entire financial year. He says the need, however, is far greater than the available resources.
Assistant Resident District Commissioner Annet Nabukenya says that as the district lobbies for additional funding, authorities should also strengthen transparency and accountability to ensure that available funds deliver value for money.
Nabukenya says better utilisation of the available resources could allow the district to cover more kilometres and ease the burden on residents who continue to grapple with a poor road network-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
