MPs ask gov’t to improve Kalangala ferry extension services

Legislators hailing from Kalangala district have asked the government to improve connectivity to Kyamuswa County islands in Kalangala district through the extension of ferry services to the area.

Led by Bujumba MP Julius Mukasa Opondo, Kyamuswa MP Moses Kabuusu and Kalangala Woman MP Helen Nakimuli, the legislators made this appeal during a monitoring trip on maintenance works of MV Pearl at Port Bell Luzira in Kampala on Monday. 

Kabuusu said of the two ferries that ply the Luku - Bukakata route, the government should dedicate one to the islanders in Kyamuswa. 

“If not, let it build another vessel to ease connectivity to and from the islands in my county,” Kabuusu said.

He added that islanders' productivity is affected due to a lack of transport to and from the mainland, and are unable to access markets where they can sell their products, such as fish and agricultural products. 

Kalangala legislators on MV Pearl. (Photo by Samuel Nkuba)

Opondo asked Kalangala Infrastructure Services Ltd to initiate a move to serve other islands through the construction of ferries and further asked the government to fund them. 

“Though there is a need to open up Kyamuswa in terms of improved transport means, our appeal to the government is to have night ferry shifts; at least two from Kalangala to Masaka to handle emergency cases and night business economy,” Opondo said.

Works in final stages

The works on MV Pearl at Luzira are in the final stages and the vessel is expected to resume operations by the end of this week, according to Captain Geoffrey Ayesigye. 

Nakimuli urged the government to subsidise fuel costs consumed by Kalangala Infrastructure Services Ltd to reliably serve islanders.

Islanders in Kyamuswa county have since 2012 pleaded with the government for a vessel that can transport passengers from the different islands to the mainland, but their prayers are yet to be answered.