By Sharon Kabakaali
A section of residents who use the Busisi-Rukooge road in Hoima West division, Hoima City have Thursday morning protested by blocking the road over its current poor state. The residents dug deep holes, placed big logs and banana suckers across the road while others have burnt tyres to show their dissatisfaction of the state of the road.
According to John Mackenzie, the Chairperson of Busiisi West cell says the road has been in a sorry state for some time leading to several accidents especially at nighttime as people return home saying the poor state of the road has now prompted the residents to protest.
He has asked the city leadership to swiftly intervene and work on the road.
Although the city authorities plan to rehabilitate the already dilapidated roads, there is need to open more roads to enable the populace to access economic enhancers.
Geoffrey Tumwesige, who owns a vegetable farm in Rukooge village, Hoima West Division says transporting his harvests every day to Hoima Central Market is a hurdle since during the rainy season, the transport costs go high as drivers say the road is impassable while during the dry season, his vegetables like tomatoes and green veggies reach the market when they are full of dust hence buyers pay him less.
Jackline Musiime, a resident of Kasaasa trading centre faults the city authorities for not doing enough to repair roads, saying that some of them have become a death trap and the bushy surrounding on the roads is a hideout for criminal elements.
Robert Ruhigwa, the Mayor Hoima West City division says that lack of funding is frustrating their efforts to rehabilitate roads in the area. He says the entire division is being run on a budget of Shillings 600 million.
Hoima City Council each financial year quarter receives shillings one billion for road maintenance and rehabilitation.
Slyvia Nalumaga Balyesiima, the Hoima City deputy mayor while responding over the matter has promised to engage the city engineer to forge a workable solution calling on the residents to remain patient.
Brian Kaboyo, the Hoima City mayor says the delayed release of funds by the central government and the lack of road construction equipment by the city is to blame for the delayed rehabilitation of not only the Busiisi-Rukooge road but other roads as well.
Kaboyo however says that the city authorities will work on the roads soon with priority on those in the direst state. He calls upon the city residents to be patient as they look for all possible means to have the roads worked upon.
