By Francis Lubega
8th May 2023
Government plans to release UGX 3 billion (approximately USD 800,000) to aid in the rehabilitation of roads damaged by mudslides and floods in the Kigezi region.
The heavy rains that caused mudslides last week left many roads and bridges in the area severely damaged.
The Kabale-Kisoro road in Hamurwa town council, Rubanda district, suffered a huge collapse, leading to traffic paralysis. Additionally, the Hamurwa floating bridge along the Hamurwa-Kanungu road in Rubanda district, the Muhera bridge along the Kebisoni-Kisiizi-Muhanga road in Rukungiri district, and the Mukozi-Kashara bridge along the road connecting Kisoro town to the sub-counties of Nyundo, Rubuguri, and Nkuringo town councils in Kisoro district were also seriously damaged by the floods.
The mudslides resulted in the deaths of about 21 people in the Kisoro, Rubanda, Kabale, Rukiga, and Kanungu districts, with ten people dying in the Murora sub-county, Kisoro district. According to Care and Assistance for Forced Migrants (CAFOMI), the mudslides have also left 523 people homeless in the area.
Although workers from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) are seen mobilizing equipment and materials to repair the damaged part at Hamurwa, they are yet to be seen on the ground to repair other damaged areas.
Musa Ecweru, the State Minister for Works and Transport, has announced that his office and Uganda Road Fund officials will hold a meeting on Tuesday to plan how the emergency intervention funds will be utilized.
Ecweru revealed that UGX 2 billion will be used to rehabilitate the damaged roads in Kabale and Kisoro, while UGX 1 billion will go to Rukungiri.
He added that the funds will be released after the meeting.
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