MUKONO – Residents of Lweza village, Mukono Municipality are mobilising funds to construct a temporary bridge connecting the villages of Kikooza and Kitega.
Torrential rains washed away the said bridge last month, cutting off residents from either side of the villages. The bridge was the main alternative route for vehicles avoiding traffic jam along Kampala-Jinja highway to connect to Katosi road.
Following the destruction of the bridge, residents have to endure travelling long distances through the villages of Nabuti and Dandira to connect to the affected villages. Boda Boda riders have since taken advantage of the situation to hike transport fares from Ugx2, 000 to Ugx4, 000 or above.
Joachim Ssendi – the LCI chairperson of Lweza revealed that residents had so far raised Ugx20m out of the budgeted Ugx50m to construct a temporary bridge. He said it was inevitable for the residents to wait for government intervention because the channel was the only connecting point for the communities in the two villages.
But Nathan Nsubuga – a resident of Lweza said it was only prudent for government to intervene and construct a permanent bridge that would give residents permanent access on either side.
The Mukono Municipal deputy Mayor, William Makumbi estimated that construction of a permanent bridge would require Ugx500m, which money hadn’t been budgeted for in the current financial year.
“Even if we had budgeted for such money, it would still be released in instalments – but we are lobbying to see that something is done.
“Currently, we have restricted using the road by dumping heaps of soil at either side to prevent travellers from falling into the trench,” said Makumbi.
Several roads in Mukono municipality are impassable because it takes more than 10 years without being repaired or maintained.
The Municipal Town Clerk, Godfrey Kisekka has, on several occasions chorused how his area of jurisdiction lacked funds to maintain roads.
