RUKUNGIRI- The Public has been encouraged to change their mindset if they to have well and developed households in their communities.
The message was delivered by the Security Minister who doubles as the Rujumbura county legislator Hon. Maj Gen. Jim Muhwezi while presiding over the commissioning of Kyabahanga Bridge that is located in Kyabahanga cell, Bugarama, parish in Bwambara sub- county Rukungiri district.
The bridge that connects Bwambara and Nyamirama sub counties in Rukungiri and Kanungu respectively was constructed at a cost of UGX 10.4 billion and was funded by the Ugandan government.
Hon Jim Muhwezi asked people to develop mindset change especially to graduate from subsistence to commercial economy taking the advantage of this bridge.
He advised them to embrace government programs, especially the new parish development model if they want to gain more from the bridge.
Minister Muhwezi also requested residents of Rukungiri and Kanungu districts to own the bridge and take care of it to improve their household incomes through eased transportation of their goods to market centers.
On the same function, the Kanungu District chairperson Eng. Sam Kajojo called upon people to engage in productive activities since the government has filled the gap that has been hindering the transportation of goods between two districts.
Kajojo asked people to safeguard the bridge materials tasking everybody to take responsibility such that they can’t be stolen since the bridge benefits all people.
Hon. Elisa Rutahigwa the legislator for Rukungiri Municipality who is also the chairperson of Rukungiri district roads committee narrated that most of the bridges and roads are in poor state due to the outbreak of Covid 19 that brought about scarcity of resources however consoled the community that the situation will soon stabilize and roads will be worked on since economy was fully reopened.
Chris Kagayano the Bwambara sub county chairperson thanked the government of Uganda for thinking about them explaining that they have been facing hard times before the bridge was worked adding that even people lost lives trying to use the previous makeshift.
Kagayano requested for more social services from the government including water and electricity which will help them fully participate in productive activities and increase their household income.
The function was graced by Rukungiri and Kanungu Resident District Commissioners Nsubuga Bewayo Stephen and Hajji Shafik Sekandi, Kinkizi west area legislator Hon. Kaberuka James among other invited guests.
Kyabahanga Bridge was constructed by “Armpass Technical Services Limited” that started construction in July 2019 and completed in August 2021.