Residents Demand Tarmacking of Kabundaire–Kibimba–Saaka Road

Muddy Kagote – Saaka road after the rain

By Sunday Aloysius

Kagote Saaka road, a national road under ministry of works and transport is one of the major roads that lead to many government installations like Katojo prison, mountain division headquarters at Muhoti Barracks, Mountains of the moon university on top of being a major transit route for local farmers that are transporting their Matooke, Irish potatoes and other agricultural products to markets in Fort Portal town and transit route to pozzolana mines in Kicwamba and Harugongo sub counties.

Despite being such important, locals are still waiting on government to hear their cries and work on the 8 km road to save the local businesses loses incurred due to a lot of dust that enter into their businesses, and potholes that have made the road almost impassable, while during the rainy season, the road becomes sleepy and impassable.

A man enduring dust on Saaka road as trucks pass

Residents of Kibimba Ward, central division in Fort Portal City have urged the government to expedite the tarmacking of the Kabundaire–Kibimba–Saaka Road, citing its poor condition and the health risks caused by excessive dust.

Richard Businge, a boda-boda rider at Kibimba Stage, said the busy road is frequently used by heavy trucks transporting pozzolana stones, as well as vehicles from the UPDF Mountain Division and Mountains of the Moon University. He appealed to those in charge to regularly sprinkle water on the road at least three times a day to reduce dust and prevent respiratory illnesses.

Fatuma Timbigamba, a restaurant owner in Kibimba, said the dust affects her business by driving away customers and contaminating food.

Amutuhaire Rosemary Hadijah, the area councilor and Secretary for Gender and Community-Based Services, representing Central West where the road is situated said residents have long pushed for the road’s upgrade, adding they are waiting on CCC, a chines’ construction company that was instructed by the president to work on the road to start on the tarmacking, adding that they have visited the road to do mapping and designs, optimistic that the work will start in the shortest time possible..

Hadijah added that the road’s poor condition has caused persistent challenges, such as potholes and flooding during rainy seasons, calling on residents to support the ongoing maintenance works as they wait on the tarmacking process.