Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has assured residents of Kitagwenda County that government is taking steps to address the poor state of the Mahyoro–Buhindagye road, following concerns raised in Parliament by area MP Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe, while speaking during a parliamentary session this week, questioned the Ministry of Works and Transport over what he described as the selective maintenance of roads in Kitagwenda.
He said recent maintenance undertaken by the Ministry’s Ibanda substation concentrated on pothole pitching along the Ibanda–Kabujogera–Rwenjaza road, while the Mahyoro–Buhindagye road was left unattended despite its deteriorating condition.
According to the legislator, the situation has made transportation difficult for residents and traders who depend on the road to move people and agricultural produce.
Mugabe said the deteriorating road has not only increased the cost of transport but has also disrupted business activities across the area, particularly for farmers who rely on road networks to access markets.
In her response, Prime Minister Nabbanja said government had taken note of the concern and that the Ministry of Works and Transport had prioritised intervention on the road.
She said works on the Mahyoro–Buhindagye road are expected to include grading and installation of culverts, with the works scheduled to commence this month.
The intervention is expected to improve drainage and restore the road’s motorability, particularly in sections affected by water and poor drainage.
The Mahyoro–Buhindagye road has for years been identified among roads requiring improvement in Kitagwenda. A government assessment listed the approximately 9.2-kilometre Mahyoro–Kanyabikyere–Buhindagye road for reshaping, gravelling, drainage works and swamp improvement after deterioration of the carriageway and damage to culverts. The estimated cost in that assessment was Shs441.6 million.
The road forms part of an important network connecting communities in Mahyoro and surrounding areas, with residents depending on it for access to markets, social services and neighbouring districts.
Concerns over the condition of roads in the area are not new. In 2022, residents called for urgent rehabilitation of the Mahyoro–Kabujogera road, citing dangerous sections, deteriorating surfaces and problems around bridges. Local leaders at the time also raised concerns that poor road conditions were affecting the movement of agricultural produce and contributing to accidents.
The latest government commitment therefore comes amid continued pressure from residents and local leaders for improved road infrastructure in Kitagwenda.
For farmers, better roads are particularly important because Kitagwenda’s economy depends heavily on agriculture. Poor roads can force producers to sell their crops at lower prices within their communities because traders are reluctant to travel to areas where transport is difficult.
Residents are now expected to watch closely to see whether the promised grading and culvert installation works begin as scheduled and whether they will extend beyond temporary repairs to provide a more durable solution.
The commitment by the Prime Minister also puts the Ministry of Works and Transport under pressure to ensure that the planned intervention is implemented effectively. While grading can temporarily restore access, proper drainage and adequate culvert installation will be critical to preventing the road from deteriorating again, especially during periods of heavy rainfall.
Mugabe’s intervention in Parliament is likely to keep the issue on the government’s agenda as residents await the commencement of the works.
For communities along the Mahyoro–Buhindagye corridor, the expectation is that the promised intervention will ease transportation, improve access to markets and services, and restore confidence in the road network serving the wider Kitagwenda area.