In an effort to find a solution, the Rukungiri district members of Parliament yesterday toured the roads in the Rujumbura constituency, paying particular attention to those that are in bad condition.
They were led by Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa, a member of parliament for the Rukungiri municipality and the head of the district’s roads committee, Maj. Gen. Jim Katugugu Muhwezi, a member of parliament for Rujumbura County, Midius Kaharata, the district woman MP, and Hon. Naboth Namanya, a member of parliament for Rubabo County.
These were supported by the district, Sub County, and town council leadership, who examined the roads and bridges in the sub counties of Buhunga, Nyakagyeme, Bugangari, and Bwambara.
They then met at JADI Gardens in Bikurungu town council to coordinate and consider the best course of action.
Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Dr. Elisa Rutahigwa, the chairperson of the Rukungiri district roads committee, said that he had discovered during the inspections that people had made significant contributions to the deterioration of roads and bridges because of subpar agricultural practices that caused erosion, which in turn caused bridge deterioration.
Dr. Rutahigwa continued by saying that the topography in the Rukungiri district also adds to the degradation of roads and vowed to work with the government to find a solution to the problem.
Dr. Rutahigwa added that the roads and bridges are currently better than in previous two years.
Hon. Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi, Minister of Security and Member of Parliament for Rujumbura County, revealed that while inspecting the roads and bridges in Buhunga Sub County at Ikuniro Bridge, he noticed that they were being washed away by the water caused by soil that blocked the passage canal brought by the poor cultivation methods, urging public awareness of cultivation methods.
Minister Jim Muhwezi encouraged the general public, particularly those utilizing the new tarmac road of Rukungiri Kanungu, to ride and drive safely since the majority of people have already lost their lives.
He promised to work hand in hand with fellow MPs to lobby services from government to people of Rukungiri for betterment of societies.
Rukungiri district Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Midius Natukunda Kaharata, said that the leadership of the Rukungiri district provided better and more effective services requesting them to maintain so for more people to benefit.
Hon. Natukunda continued by saying that because the rainy season has begun, it is important for leaders to plan for natural disasters in reports that will be sent to the government so that it is informed and prepared to act promptly if the need arises.
The town clerks and sub county chiefs of the Rukungiri district, however, disclosed in the meeting that they are stuck with sizable sums of money on accounts for road funds because they were unable to secure a grader from the district to work on their roads within their areas of jurisdiction.
They pleaded with the government to get involved so that people could receive better services.
The Rukungiri district roads committee last assessed the roads in the Rubabo constituency, this time, they inspected Rujumbura constituency before moving on to the Rukungiri municipality.