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A boda boda man trys to make through potholes in Rwengiri center along Ibanda Kitagwenda road. [Photo: Jovita Hasto]
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By Jovita Hasto
IBANDA - The Ibanda–Kitagwenda road, a government-maintained road, has been in a poor state for over five years. The road stretches to Kagongo Division, a community with more than 13 educational institutions and several health facilities.
Along this road lies Uganda Martyrs Hospital in Kagongo Division, which serves as a general hospital not only for locals but also for patients from neighboring districts including Kazo, Kiruhura, Kamwenge, Kitagwenda, and Fort Portal. Road users say the poor state of the road has affected access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and business. Some sections of the road have been temporarily patched with soil, which residents fear will not last.
Road users speak out
Mr. Galas Tumuhirwe, a boda boda rider in Kyeikucu Ward, Kagongo Division, says the road condition is alarming. “The people we carry are mostly patients and expectant mothers. A journey that should take 10–15 minutes now takes 30–35 minutes because we have to ride cautiously to avoid accidents,” he said.
The distance from Ibanda–Kamwenge Road to Kagongo is 5 kilometers, with boda bodas charging between Shs 3,000 and Shs 4,000. Traveling further to Kitagwenda, taxis charge Shs 15,000 for the 37.8 km stretch, which takes between 1.5 to 2 hours.
Taxi driver Mr. Alex Musiime explained that transporting patients from Kitagwenda to Uganda Martyrs Hospital is risky, especially at night.
“Sickness has no time, so we sometimes drive at night. Thugs take advantage of the bad road to attack passengers because we cannot speed or overtake—we are forced to slow down and navigate carefully,” he said.
Though some rehabilitation work with murram has begun in Kagongo Ward, drivers fear it will be washed away when the rains return.
At Uganda Martyrs Hospital stage, boda boda rider Mr. Vincent Tuhamize said the road has increased their operational costs. “We spend a lot on repairing tyres and shock absorbers. We also delay bringing patients to the hospital, and some have missed appointments,” he noted.
In 2023, residents of Kagongo Hill staged a demonstration, appealing to government for urgent intervention. Fr. Paul Mutume, the parish priest of Ibanda, later wrote to President Museveni highlighting how the poor road had disrupted access to healthcare and education.
“I raised the matter with the President, and he promised it would be repaired alongside the Mbarara–Ibanda road. But the road has remained in a bad state. When he recently visited, he was diverted to a longer route, and I doubt he noticed the road’s condition,” Fr. Mutume said.
Sr. Dorothy Turyasingura, Administrator of Uganda Martyrs Hospital, said service delivery has been greatly compromised.
“Caretakers blame us when they lose patients who arrive late due to the road. Many first go to nearby clinics and only reach us when it’s too late. Some patients, especially at night, have also been attacked by robbers on the road,” she explained.
She added that the hospital faces high mechanical expenses for ambulances referred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.
At Ibanda Secondary School, staff member Mr. Crescent Oyesiga narrated how he narrowly survived an accident while trying to avoid potholes.
“One day my car lost control, but I managed to stabilize it. I survived. We need urgent intervention,” he said.
Authorities respond
Ibanda Deputy District Chairperson Mr. Elias Tumubweine revealed that the district once attempted to fix the road but was blocked.
“We wanted to remove the worn-out tarmac and use district graders, but the Ministry of Works stopped us and even arrested the chairperson. Ironically, they are now doing the same—filling potholes with soil, which will be washed away in the rainy season,” he said.
Ms. Doreen Kukunda, Senior Engineer at the Ministry of Works, Ibanda Station, said the ministry is implementing first-quarter works.
“We are stabilizing roads with gravel before sealing them. We are also working on drainage in Bwizibwera and Rubindi, as well as the Kyankanda–Ruhoko road to Buhweju. The delays were caused by the merger of UNRA with the Ministry of Works, but operations have now resumed,” she said.
She urged residents to report road damages promptly so they can be addressed.
Torch Media Africa
