Kayunga Roads Submerged as Leaders Blame Environmental Degradation

Leaders in Kayunga District have raised concern over worsening environmental degradation, warning that continued destruction of wetlands and forests is fuelling flooding that has left several roads submerged, disrupting transport, trade and access to essential services.

Leaders in Kayunga District have raised concern over increasing environmental degradation, blaming it for the continued submerging of roads and disruption of service delivery in several parts of the district.

The warning follows recent heavy rains that left a number of roads flooded and nearly impassable, affecting transport, trade, health services and access to schools in low-lying areas.

District authorities say the destruction of wetlands, poor farming practices, sand mining, soil erosion, garbage dumping, illegal construction and unchecked tree cutting have worsened flooding in the area. They note that water from overflowing wetlands has increasingly spilled onto community access roads and nearby gardens, making movement difficult.

Officials further reported that some roads connecting rural sub-counties remained submerged for days, forcing residents to struggle accessing health facilities and markets. Government workers, they added, have also found it difficult to reach affected communities during emergencies.

The Resident District Commissioner for Kayunga District, Jimmy Nsimbi Mugwanya, warned that the situation could deteriorate further if residents do not adopt better environmental conservation practices.

“People have continued to encroach on wetlands and cut down trees, yet these are the same natural resources that help control flooding. We must protect the environment if we are to save our roads and livelihoods,” Mugwanya said.

He made the remarks during a community engagement session commonly referred to as “Balaza” held at Kayunga Taxi Park and organised by Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital.

Mugwanya stressed that destruction of road infrastructure directly endangers livelihoods, as it limits access to health services, food supplies and other essential needs.

“As leaders in the district, we are not going to sit back while some members of the community continue to violate gazetted wetlands,” he said, adding that flooding in the district is a recurring problem that requires urgent and collective action.

Authorities have since appealed to communities to stop cultivating in swampy areas and instead support tree planting initiatives aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems.

They also called for stronger enforcement of environmental protection laws, noting that environmental abuse is a major contributor to infrastructure damage and rising costs of road maintenance and repairs.

Residents in some of the affected areas expressed frustration over the poor state of roads, saying transport costs have risen while traders have suffered losses due to delayed or failed access to markets.

District leaders say they are now working closely with environmental officers and local councils to intensify community sensitisation on sustainable land use and disaster preparedness.