By KT Reporter
The poor state of Mutumba Road, also known as Kampala Road, has angered residents of Mirembe Cell in Nabuyonga Ward, Mbale City, Northern Division. The over four-kilometre stretch branching off from the Mbale–Soroti road has deteriorated into a thick, muddy surface that traps motorcycle tyres, making movement difficult.
Residents say the road has become a symbol of broken promises by their elected leaders. They accuse Mbale City authorities of neglecting roads in the division despite collecting taxes from businesses operating along the stretch. Frustrated by the situation, residents recently resorted to using rudimentary tools to try to repair the road themselves.
For months, the road has posed a serious challenge to users. During dry spells, dust becomes overwhelming, while in the rainy season, it turns into a swamp. Residents say they are tired of what they describe as “selective development,” where the city centre is upgraded while feeder roads are neglected.
“We pay our taxes, but look at where we work! My customers cannot reach my shop because of this mud. When the President came to commission the USMID roads, we thought our turn was next. Now they have gone silent,” one shopkeeper along the road said.
Musa, a boda boda rider operating on the road, questioned whether the city has leaders who care about their plight. “I spend most of my daily earnings at the mechanic. Last week, a pregnant mother almost fell off my bike because the mud was too slippery. If the grader doesn’t come this week, we shall plant yams in these potholes to show the Mayor we have a garden, not a road,” he said.
Mirembe Cell LC1 Chairperson James Mugoshya said residents are suffering because the road is no longer motorable. He noted that businesses have stalled due to its poor condition and urged city authorities to expedite plans to rehabilitate it.
Uthman Mugoya, a resident and General Secretary of the Mbale City Development Forum, said the road was last rehabilitated during the first term of former Mayor Mutwalib Zandya. He questioned why authorities continue to collect revenue from residents who receive little in terms of service delivery.
“The City Council is eating our money while people here suffer from the bad roads. It is as if we are not part of the city,” Mugoya said, adding that some residents can no longer drive their vehicles to their homes due to the road’s condition.
Mbale City authorities say they are constrained by limited funding from the Uganda Road Fund. While a successor programme to USMID — the Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development (UCMID) project — is expected to commence this year, the road’s condition remains a concern for residents.Mutumba Road is among those earmarked for upgrading under the new programme. Mbale City Engineer Edison Kasaata said emergency “spot-patching” is being considered, although no specific timeline has been set. He noted that the city plans forward maintenance as it awaits the full rollout of UCMID works.
Kasaata emphasized that Mutumba Road is a priority under the upcoming programme, but currently lacks a dedicated budget allocation. “The community should be informed that we have the mandate to keep these roads motorable. However, when the programme meant to fund such works has not yet started, we can only carry out forward maintenance when savings allow,” he said.
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