Wilson Agaba, a concerned resident says that the collapse of the bridge paralyzed has left them in miserable life with no motor vehicle accessing their area. Agaba says that energetic men had turned the bridge into a source of income by charging between shillings 2000-5000 per person to helping them to cross.
A bodaboda rider being helped to cross an improvised bridge at Baskia
Locals in Nyakagyeme sub county, Rukungiri district are up in
arms against district authorities for failure to renovate Baskia bridge.
The bridge is located along Nyakagyeme-Rwerere- road which
connects Nyakagyeme and Rugyeyo sub county in Kanungu district.
Locals
argue that the bridge was destroyed by floods three years back and nothing has been done since. They urgue that the problem has blocked
motor vehicles from using the road to and from Rugyeyo.
Wilson Agaba, a concerned resident says that the collapse of
the bridge has left suffering. Agaba says that
energetic men have turned the bridge into a source of income by charging between
shillings 2000-5000 per person to carry people a cross the bridge. He says a temporary bridge has been erected.
But Moses Arineitwe, a boda boda rider says that
the temporary bridge which they constructed is not sustainable. He wonders why
the district is silent about the problem.
Henry Ngateireyo, Nyakagyeme Sub County LCIII chairman says
that the district authorities promised to rehabilitate the bridge two years
ago, but all in vain.
Ngayeireyo says that people in Nyakagyeme sub county should be
given services since they also vote like other Ugandans. He adds that in-case
nothing is done soon he will mobilize locals to hold a big demonstration.
Fred Turyamuhweza, Rukungiri District Roads Committee Chairperson
says that though they are aware of the problem, the district has no funds to
renovate the bridge. Turyamuhweza, who is also the Rujumbura county member of Parliament however calls for calm saying that they are in negotiations with Uganda
National Roads Authority to help them construct a modern and stronger bridge
which cannot be easily washed away by floods.