Kabale District Engineer Januario Bagamuhunda has called on the government to increase the road fund grant to address the escalating challenges of road maintenance in the mountainous district.
Speaking during a monitoring tour in Ndorwa East County organized by the district’s road committee, Bagamuhunda outlined the critical need for additional funding and equipment to maintain Kabale’s rugged road network effectively. He revealed that while the district initially received approximately UGX 500 million in road grants, a subsequent increase to UGX 1 billion was later reduced, leaving the district struggling to meet its road maintenance needs.
“Kabale’s mountainous terrain in the Kigezi region makes road maintenance more complex and costly. The government must consider the unique challenges we face and allocate resources accordingly,” Bagamuhunda appealed.
He further stressed the necessity of procuring road maintenance equipment to enable the district to respond swiftly to emergencies and prevent roads from falling into disrepair, which hampers connectivity and economic activities.
CUE IN: Engineer Bagamuhunda on Appeal//RR//
The State Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Hon. David Bahati, who joined the tour, pledged to advocate for Kabale to be officially recognized as a hard-to-reach district, a move that could lead to increased funding.
“The funds allocated to districts must be utilized effectively. However, we will ensure that Kabale’s unique challenges are addressed by lobbying for more road equipment and securing the necessary materials to facilitate smoother operations,” Bahati assured.
CUE IN: Hon. Bahati on Road Funds//RR//
Kabale District Road Committee Chairperson and District Woman MP Atwakiire Catherine Ndamira, alongside Hon. Niwagaba Winfred, reiterated the importance of prioritizing Kabale’s infrastructure needs.
“Our monitoring visits are aimed at ensuring accountability and progress in road projects. We remain optimistic that our efforts to have Kabale recognized as a hard-to-reach district will soon yield results,” they stated.
CUE IN: Road Committee Leaders on Monitoring//VOXPOP//
The leaders also underscored that the region’s development hinges on reliable road networks, which play a pivotal role in enhancing trade, tourism, and community connectivity.
