Residents of Kizungu in Scheme Ward, Nyamwamba Division, Kasese Municipality, have raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of roads in their area.
The residents, who depend on the Mubuku Irrigation Scheme to farm, say the poor state of roads hinders the transportation of crops. The area has also been prone to flooding in the Mubuku Irrigation Scheme.
Tinkasimire Luka – LC 1 for Kizungu Village, said poor road conditions have impacted local businesses, especially agriculture.
He says the road has been in a deplorable state for decades, and that the middlemen take advantage of the situation to offer lower prices for their produce.
Esther Mukamana, a farmer in the area, says flooding in the area has further catalyzed the destruction of the road, hindering the transportation of their produce to markets.
Hadijah Muhindo, another farmer, says the roads have become almost impassable due to deep potholes, making transportation of agricultural produce and daily movement extremely difficult.
She says that the poor road network has led to significant losses in agricultural produce and also endangered their lives.
Mulindi Benjamin, the area councilor, emphasized the urgency of addressing this problem, noting that farmers have to bear the high cost of transporting their produce from the scheme to their homes.
They are calling on the government to prioritize drainage desilting and flood control measures to protect their livelihoods.
Pimako Kasereka, LC III Chairperson of Nyamwamba Division, assured residents that he would engage key stakeholders of Mubuku Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Nyakatonzi Cooperative Society, who are responsible for desilting the drainage channels in scheme phase 1 and phase II, in efforts to handle flooding.
He also assured residents that roads will be worked upon to ease the running of business in the irrigation scheme.
The Mubuku Irrigation Scheme, established in 1956, remains a vital government project aimed at improving food security and combating the adverse effects of climate change on rain-fed agriculture.
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