Transportation woes in the high-altitude mountainous area of Kisoro are not about to come to an end, Deep cracks are the latest. The troubling development is unfolding on the Kabale-Kisoro Highway, particularly in the Omubwindi area of Rubanda District.
The deep cracks have appeared in a section of the Kabale-Kisoro Highway, raising alarms among commuters who fear a repeat of a 2023 incident when a portion of the road in Bwera Village, Hamurwa Town Council, suddenly collapsed, leaving traffic paralyzed for several hours.
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They are raising concerns of a similar fate, and commuters are growing increasingly anxious.
The current cracks on a road, which serves as a vital link to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—an important tourist destination—are also used by heavy traffic, including cargo trucks bound for Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, that exacerbates the situation.
“We’ve been witnessing the road curving in, and it’s terrifying, especially for night drivers,” said Rev. Yason Ainemani, a road user. “We have been reporting it, but nothing is being done. We believe the poor condition is due to shoddy construction work.”
In defense, the Rubanda District chairman, Steven Kasyaba, steeped his frustration over the lack of action from both the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Kasyaba claimed that ever since the merger of UNRA with the Ministry of Works, the district has faced significant challenges in getting timely responses to road maintenance issues.
“We’ve raised this issue with the Ministry of Works and Transport, but we’ve yet to see any response,” Kasyaba said.
“It’s frustrating, especially with so many people and cargo relying on this road daily. We’ve instructed our district engineer to put up warning signs to alert drivers,”, he alleged. However, the area Police spokesperson also claimed police already set up warning signs.
“… but we need the Ministry to take concrete steps to fix the road before it’s too late,” Kasyaba added.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson, noted that the police have taken precautionary measures by installing local warning signs.
“We have alerted the public about the danger on the road and are closely monitoring the situation,” Mr. Maate is quoted.
“It’s a busy route with heavy trucks, and we are doing what we can to control traffic and ensure safety.”
Allan Ssempebwa, a supporting communications officer at the Ministry of Works and Transport, acknowledged the issue and assured the public that the ministry was aware of the situation.
“Our teams are on the ground, securing the area and evaluating the extent of the damage,” Ssempebwa said.
“Once the assessment is complete, we’ll begin work on restoring the road. We are waiting for the final report to determine what needs to be done.”
The dangerous condition of the road is compounded by its heavy usage, with vehicles traveling to and from Bwindi National Park, a key tourism hub.
Local residents and travelers have called on the Ministry of Works and Transport to prioritize repairs, emphasizing the risk to both human lives and the local economy if the situation is not addressed.
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