RUKUNGIRI – Residents in Rwerere Town Council, Rukungiri District, have appealed to the government to intervene and address the deteriorating condition of the Rukungiri-Rwerere-Enengo road. This critical artery has seen public transport dwindle from four buses to just a single operator.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The route, which is in dire condition, has crippled transport and dealt a heavy blow to local trade and livelihoods. The remaining bus service, operated by Bwindi Coaches, now faces possible suspension, a development residents say would isolate the area entirely.
Patience Nabimanya, a former bus company receipt issuer turned banana seller, noted that the poor road has devastated transport and her livelihood. With buses on the route reduced to only one, she said she is forced to rely on little return.
She expressed frustration that local leaders always attribute the road’s condition to the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and called on them to stop giving excuses and urgently engage responsible authorities to repair the road.
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Robert Turyamusima, a motorcycle rider operating at the Rwerere market stage, painted a grim picture of the road’s condition, noting that the damage stretches from Kitooma in Rukungiri through Rwerere all the way to Enengo.
He added that the treacherous terrain has forced several vehicles to abandon the route altogether, leaving motorcyclists as the primary mode of transport, a role that comes with its own risks and costs.
“We are calling upon the government and the responsible authorities to intervene and improve this road. The situation is getting worse by the day, and our livelihoods depend on a reliable road network,” Turyamusima pleaded.
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District Councillor Hon. Kabooti Ndyamweha, also a resident of Rusoroza Ward, confirmed that the entire road from the Rukungiri junction all the way to Enengo has deteriorated significantly, impacting both transport and business activities in the area
Ndyamweha disclosed that the area also grapples with a chronic water crisis and unreliable electricity, which have persisted for years. Some residents are forced to pay as much as 1,000 shillings for a single jerrycan of clean water, with both challenges making it harder for them to access basic necessities.
“I call upon leaders above me and all those responsible for these concerns to take the necessary action and address the road and water challenges facing our people. Our people are suffering, and they need immediate intervention,” Ndyamweha urged.
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With the rainy season approaching, the road is expected to worsen and could potentially cut off the area entirely. Residents now look to the government, UNRA, and other stakeholders to heed their call and prioritize its rehabilitation.
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