By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE
Mbale City Authorities have revealed reasons why City Access roads have not been worked on despite their impassable status.
The explanation was given by the City’s Public Relations Officer, James Kutosi on Wednesday 29th November, 2023 while responding to reports that residents have resorted to using hand hoes to work on some of these roads.
For instance, residents of Zabanyanya Ward, Industrial City Division in Mbale city yesterday used hand hoes to rehabilitate their Green Pasture Zabanyanya 4 Kilometre Road.
Green pasture to Zabanyanya is a City Council Road which connects Mbale City Centre to Zabanyanya, Musoto and neighboring Bungokho Sub County in Mbale district.
Michael Wakutusi, a resident of Bugema B says that they resorted to work on the road after city leaders paid deaf ears following their repeated calls about the status of the road.
He adds that this road is used by farmers in the area to transport agricultural products to the city centre for sale saying it’s now very hard to transport their produce because vehicles cannot pass through.
Jackson Mulongo, the LCI chairperson of Bugema cell says that their leaders always tell them that the road is on budget and will be worked on but it’s now three years.
Michael Walekula, the LCII chairperson of Zabanyanya Ward says that the status of the road has impacted negatively on them because insecurity cases have increased.
He says, last week alone, three women were raped by unknown youths at night while walking back from town since vehicles and boda boda motorcycle can’t pass.
In response, Kutosi revealed that since the city commenced, no single road has been worked on.
He adds that they have not yet got funds from the central government to work on roads in the city and urged locals to be patient.
Other areas in the city like Nkoma, Busamaga, Namakwekwe among others are having impassable roads due to this current heavy rains.
