By Jay Tumwesige
Kabarole: The poor state of roads in most rural parts of Kabarole district is worrying residents and local council leaders.
Several roads in the district remain impassable as a result of the multitudes of potholes and many of them have become flooded because of the heavy rains in the area during this period.
In Karangura sub-county for isnstance, several farmers are stuck with farm produce since they cannot access markets due to the poor state of the roads.
“I have been stuck with onions for the last four days because since it started raining the road is in a very bad condition,” Julius Kagaba, a resident of Karangura told TheSpy Uganda.
He added that “For the last four days there is no vehicle that can access the roads, which has left us stranded.
To make matters worse, boda-bodas riders have increased the fares; previously they used to charge us between Shs5000-10,000 to Karago market depending on the agricultural produce. But since the road became so bad they charge between Shs30,000 and 50,000.”
Motorists say that driving through the town has become a nightmare.
Jimmy Kisembo, a driver in Karago town council, said that it’s very difficult to drive through the muddy and rocky road.
A section of district leaders accuse the technical staff for stealing spare parts from road construction equipment which were recently given to the district by the ministry of works.
Four district officials including the district engineer Stephen Rwakatama are being investigated by the police for allegedly stealing spare parts from the vihicles.
Phiona Sanyu, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)for Kabarole district, recently told officials from the Inspectorate of Government and State House Anti-corruption Unit that they are still waiting for a police report before taking action.
“The four were arrested and charged with theft at Fort Portal Central Police Station. We are still waiting for the police to give us a report upon which we shall base to act,” Sanyu said.
Stephen Asiimwe, the Kabarole Resident District Commissioner (RDC), said that the four officials who allegedly stole batteries from the road construction equipment are denying people services.
Asiimwe acknowledged that the roads are a danger to the lives of both mortorists and pedestrians.
However, he said that most of the roads that are in bad conditions are under the district.
Joseph Mashuhuko, the district councillor for Karambi sub-county, said that one of the equipment was iregularly hired out to Fort Portal municipal council without approval of council.
He said that corruption is also hindering the maintenance of roads in the district.
“There is a road connecting Mugusu town council to Karambi sub-county; over Shs10m was released for its maintenance but no work has ever bneen done” Mashuhuko said.
While meeting with the district officials recently Simon Lokodo the state minister for ethics and intergrity decried the high cases of corruption in Kabarole.
Lokodo, who had led a team of officials from the Inspectorate of Government and State House anti-corruption unit said that they were investigating several cases of corruption involving Kabarole district officials.
“Due to the high levels of corruption local people are being denied services. We are also taking on the case where four district officials allegedly stole spare parts from road construction equipment,” Lokodo said.
