Hoima residents unhappy over stalled road works

Residents of Hoima city's Kyarwabuyamba cell have expressed concern over the city authority's failure to complete the construction of a road whose works have stalled since October last year.

Last year, Hoima city authorities started the construction of a bridge on Kyarwabuyamba swamp. Therefore, as a result of the construction works, traffic and pedestrians from Kyarwabuyambaa and Kyedikyo cells, cut off access to the city's business centre.

The residents from the affected villages say they were happy when the construction started hoping that the bridge was going to be completed soon, however, their hopes have been dashed.

James Murungi, one of the residents from Kyedikyo, expressed dismay that people's car have to move via Kinuubi trading centre to Mparo to access their cell.

According to him, the delayed competition of the bridge has made the transportation of goods and movement of people difficult. 

He noted that before the road was blocked, a bodaboda from town to Kyedikyo would charge shillings 3,000, but now the rate is shillings 5,000.

He said that there is a need for the Hoima City Authority to expedite the construction of the bridge and make the area motorable for the easy movement of the people.

John Ayesiga, one of the bodaboda riders staging at Kyaryabuyamba, wondered why Hoima city leaders are taking long work on the road. 

He noted they fixed a bridge on the swamp adding that crossing from one area to another is hard.

According to Ayesiga, the bridge made out of tree logs beside the new concrete one, is risky.

Jovia Nyajura, a resident of the area and shopowner, expressed concern over what she called the lack of accessibility, which is affecting their business.

She noted that they are no longer getting customers for their businesses because people who used to buy from them are using other roads. This is due to the poor roads and incomplete bridge.

Mayor responds

Hoima city mayor Brian Kaboyo urged the residents to remain calm saying that soon, the road and bridge will be worked on.

He noted that the completion of the bridge has been delayed because they had to first work on two bridges along Byabacwezi Road and Sheikh Twaha road in Bujumbura. 

According to him, after the completion of the two bridges, the contractor will resume works at Kyarwabuyamba bridge.

He noted that they are temporarily going to fill up the bridges with murram as they look for money to tarmac these roads.