The rehabilitation was launched on January 2, 2024, and the contractor was given six months to complete the works covering the expansion, grading, installation of culverts and improving the drainage system for 1.06 billion Shillings.
Hopes of locals and leaders in Rukiga District to see the rehabilitation of the Mparo-Noozi-Butambi road in Rukiga district are fading.
The road connects Rwamucucu Sub County, Mparo Town Council
in Rukiga district and Nyamweru Sub County, in Rubanda district. It is also an alternative route connecting
the Muhangi-Kisiizi-Kebisoni road via Rushebeya to the Kabale-Kisoro road via
Hamurwa.
The Ministry of Works and Transport contracted
MITA Engineering and Logistics Limited to construct the 8.2-kilometre road
under the District Urban and Community Access Roads program.
Mita Engineering and Logistics Company Limited is owned by Jotham
Taremwa, the former Electoral Commission Spokesperson.
The rehabilitation was
launched on January 2, 2024, and the contractor was given six months to
complete the works covering the expansion, grading, installation of culverts and
improving the drainage system for 1.06 billion Shillings. He was
expected to hand over a completed road in June.
However, the contractor cleared part of the road in the
first month and disappeared. Repeated protests and appeals by locals to have work resumes have failed to yield results.
Charity Mugarura, a resident of Noozi parish says that during
the launch in January, they were promised that by June 2024, the works would be
complete.
According to Mugarura, residents were surprised to see the contractor withdrawing equipment within two weeks. Mugarura says what annoys
him most is that before abandoning work.
//Cue in: “ekyiratuteganiisa ha nkuuto….
Cue out:…nabutiiya rutakozirwe.”//
Moses Tukwataniise, a boda boda rider says that during the rainy season, the road is impassable. Tukwataniise wonders why the contractor started work and failed to complete it.
//Cue in: “aha hantu enjura…
Cue out: …tiheine ekibatugashiire.”//
Africano Baryebuza, another concerned resident, suggests that since the contractor abandoned the road, the district should
intervene and improvise with its equipment to make the road motorable again.
//Cue in: “bakarubanjagura tibarukora beihamu…
Cue out: …tiheine orahamanya”//
Godfrey Mubangyizi, the defence secretary for Central Ward
in Mparo town council says that locals from Noozi who want to access health
services at Mparo Health Centre IV are constrained due to the current state of the road.
//Cue in: “orukuuto ruturemire kuruga…
Cue out: …hati tukore ki.?”//
When contacted, Taremwa said that he would not resume
work until he was paid by the government for the first instalment. Taremwa argues that he started work using gis personal money of 400 million shillings.
//Cue in: “The ministry of ….
Cue out: …the road.”//
Engineer Musa Mwine, the Civil Engineer in the Ministry of
Works and Transport calls for patience saying that the matter is being
discussed.