By URN
Communities on the shores of lake Albert in the Bunyoro sub region have tasked candidates vying for the various elective positions to come up with a robust strategy to enhance better health services and improve road network.
The fishing communities say they are ignored and abandoned when it comes to getting appropriate government services especially in health and road sectors yet they pay a lot of revenue to the government.
Rsponding to a survey on how relevant they find the electoral campaigns to to their challenges, they say generally that candidates vying for Presidential, parliamentary and lower local government positions should focus their agenda on improving road network and health services.
Johnson Kaahwa Asiimwe, a fisherman at Mbegu landing site in Hoima says most access roads in the area are in deplorable state adding that transportation of expectant mothers to health facilities is equally difficult.
“Many women here deliver by the roadside while being transported to health facilities due to the poor state of the roads so we do not have any nearby health facilities here. We appeal to candidates to prioritise health and road in their campaign programs,” said Asiimwe.
According to Asiimwe, they pay revenue to the government but they do not get appropriate service delivery.
Robert Gingyera, the Chairperson Lake Albert silverfish Fishers Association (LASFA) says, they are being excluded from key government programs especially roads and health services adding that most landing sites do not have health facilities yet they are over populated. He adds that roads at landing sites are impassable.
Jamtho Onencan a fisherman says, for more than 20 years, key roads in the area have remained unrehabilitated, despite being vital links for businesses, transport, and access to health services.
He cites the Kiryamboga-Mbegu-Rwentale-Fofo-Hoimo roads that are very vital for businesses but have remained in deplorable state for years. He says people in these areas have gone through untold suffering due to lack of good roads.
He further explains that, the lack of health facilities at most landing sites located on the shores of lake Albert has negatively impacted on health service delivery.
Moses Onen, another fisherman at Mbegu landing site says, the dilapidated state of the roads has fueled frequent accidents in the area tasking candidates to prioritise improved road network and better health service delivery for fishing community.
Juliet Atimango, a woman residing at Hoimo landing site in Buseruka sub county, says they do not have any single nearby government health facility in the area adding that expectant mothers often struggle to reach Hoima Regional Referral Hospital and other health facilities in emergencies due to the sorry state of roads in the area.
She says, as a result of poor roads, women end up delivering by the roadside because ambulances and vehicles cannot navigate the pothole-filled roads.
Vincent Muhumaza Savana who is vying for the Hoima LC5 Chairperson’s seat says once elected, he will prioritise road construction especially for the fishing communities saying lack of good roads has denied them (fishing communities) businesses and other social services.
