Written By | Jovita Hasto
Constructuon works at Kakorogoto village in Bufunda ward, Ibanda municipality for the water deadly water channel. [Photo: Jovita Hasto]
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IBANDA
Authorities in Ibanda Municipality have begun construction works on the Kakorogoto drainage channel, one of two water channels that had become dangerous for local residents and boda boda riders, especially at night.
The development comes weeks after Senior Presidential Advisor Kibrai Ambako visited the area and held discussions with local leaders on the status of government projects and challenges affecting the district.
Among the key issues raised were the Buzaabo and Kakorogoto drainage channels, which district leaders said had become serious safety hazards to nearby communities.
According to Godfrey Mbetegyereize, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Ibanda District, the channels are extremely deep and have posed a constant danger to residents.
“We have drainage channels that are about 30 metres deep, which has raised concerns about the safety of people living nearby. As a district, we do not have the budget to address this challenge, and we requested support from the Office of the President before we lose more lives. We lost children during the rainy season last year,” Mbetegyereize said.
Construction officially began on March 3, 2025, in Kakorogoto Village, Bufunda Ward. The project aims to reduce safety risks, regulate water flow, and improve the appearance of the area.
Isa Serwada, the engineer overseeing the project at Ibanda Municipality, said the works are being funded through support from the Office of the President and locally generated revenue from municipal taxes.
“We are currently using the Shs1 billion that the President provided, together with funds from local taxes. The work will be carried out in phases to ensure we properly utilise the available resources,” Serwada said.
Ateam of officials from Ibanda municipality with the presidential advisor Mr Kibrai Ambako(behind) supervise the water channel at Kakorogoto in Bufunda ward. [Photo: Jovita Hasto]
He explained that the first phase covers 70 metres of the 1.5-kilometre Kakorogoto drainage channel, while authorities wait for additional funding from the government or local revenue sources.
“We have begun by preparing the ground with gravel, compacting it with machines, laying hardcore, pouring concrete, and constructing the channel walls. As construction progresses, we sometimes encounter sections that require additional materials. That is why we are completing the work in phases,” Serwada added.
He noted that the Shs1 billion currently available is insufficient to complete the entire project and that the municipality hopes to secure additional support from the government or the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme.
Fred Banywana, the Secretary for Works at Ibanda Municipality, said the project will improve both accessibility and the physical appearance of the area.
“This place had become risky for people living nearby. We want to assure residents that the government is committed to developing towns and making them more organised and attractive. Even though funds are limited, we shall complete this project and other infrastructure works in the municipality,” Banywana said.
However, Banywana noted that some residents have been dumping waste into the drainage channel even as construction continues.
“As we work to complete this phase, we have observed some community members dumping plastic bags and human waste into the channel. I call upon residents to stop this behaviour and support the development efforts,” he said.
Local residents and boda boda riders have welcomed the construction works.
Julius Nasasira, a boda boda rider in Bufunda Ward, said the project will improve safety, especially for those working at night.
“Passing through this area at night has been very risky, but now it will be safer. Previously, thugs would attack riders, and because the trench was deep, you could not risk falling into it. You would simply surrender to them. We thank our leaders for addressing the problem,” he said.
Another resident, James Kaziini, said the project will also promote development in the area.
“I am happy that this drainage channel is finally being worked on. Many people had stopped constructing houses here for fear that the trench might widen and destroy their buildings. Now development will increase because access will improve,” he said.
Torch Media Africa
