Road users along the Ntungamo–Rukungiri road have raised alarm over what they describe as delays in rehabilitating the highway, warning that the current condition is becoming a daily threat to life and property.
The road begins at Fuelex Petrol Station in Ntungamo and passes through areas including Karegyeya, Kyangara, Kamokya and Kagarama, extending towards Rwashamire up to Rukungiri District. Commuters say the route has developed large potholes and service cracks, with some sections now described as nearly impassable, especially after heavy rainfall.
During the rainy season, motorists and other road users say the potholes collect water and form pools. They warn that this makes the road hazardous for motorists, cyclists, boda boda riders and pedestrians, increasing the risk of accidents. Riders also say the weakened road surface forces them to swerve suddenly, often at short notice.
Wilber Bahoora Komugisha, a boda boda rider on the route, said potholes are making it extremely difficult to control the motorcycle safely. He explained that riders collide with vehicles while trying to dodge the potholes. Another road user, Elly Bashana, said the road is “completely dilapidated,” adding that accidents increase when they carry passengers.
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Road users also cite the economic cost of the deteriorating road. They say frequent vehicle damage ranging from tyres and suspension problems to general mechanical failures forces many drivers into repeated repairs. Others noted that the poor condition forces them to slow down significantly, affecting travel time and transport efficiency along the corridor.
A special hire driver, John Atwine, called on government to urgently rehabilitate the road from Fuelex in Ntungamo to Rukungiri, saying the entire stretch remains in bad condition. Lodoviko Ayinebyoona, the Mayor of Kyangara trading center, said government has tried to patch the road, but at times the repairs do not last.
Wilber Bahoora claimed that previous pothole filling often with murram is washed away when it rains. Last year, the Ministry of Works reportedly announced plans to rehabilitate the road, but residents say some areas were only patched and later deteriorated again.
Cue in Atwine, Ludoviko and Wilber Voxpop
During a campaign rally in Ntungamo ahead of the recent 2026 general elections, President Yoweri Museveni acknowledged the road’s poor state, blaming reluctance from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
However, efforts to obtain a clear rehabilitation timeline have been delayed, as communications from the responsible offices of ministry of works and transport reportedly failed to respond to repeated calls.
Ntungamo RDC Miriam Kagaiga, urged patience, saying government processes are underway.
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