Residents Cry Out Over Abandoned Kantare–Rushekyere–Nyarubisi–Mutambi Road Project in Rukiga

Residents of Nyarubisi Village in Kitanga Parish, Kashambya Sub-county, Rukiga District have expressed frustration over the stalled Kantare–Rushekyere–Nyarubisi–Mutambi Road project, saying the delayed works have continued to affect transport, healthcare access, education, and agricultural trade in the area.

The road project, which commenced in 2022, was being implemented by MOHA Construction Company Limited under the Agriculture Cluster Development Project funded by Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. The project was intended to improve agricultural productivity and market access in rural communities, while also strengthening connectivity between Rukiga District and neighboring Rubanda District through Mutambi in Nyamweru Sub-county.

However, residents now accuse authorities of abandoning the project before it could reach Nyarubisi Village, leaving the community isolated and struggling with poor road access.

In a petition dated June 7, 2026, signed by more than 30 residents and addressed to the Chief Administrative Officer, community members appealed for urgent government intervention. Copies of the letter were also sent to area Members of Parliament, the District Chairperson, Resident District Commissioner, District Engineer, and local council leaders.

The residents said the unfinished road has continued to negatively impact their livelihoods despite repeated promises of improved infrastructure under government development programs.

Speaking to our reporter, Nyarubisi Village LC1 Chairperson Justus Tirwomwe said residents are facing serious transportation challenges due to the poor state of the road. He explained that the community lacks reliable transport services and that patients in critical condition are sometimes carried on traditional stretchers to nearby health facilities because vehicles cannot easily access the area.

According to Tirwomwe, the road’s condition has also affected education in the village, with school-going children forced to walk long distances daily to access schools in neighboring areas.

He further noted that farmers are among the most affected, as they struggle to transport agricultural produce to markets, resulting in financial losses and reduced household incomes.

“Our people cannot easily access markets, hospitals, and schools because of the poor road network. We expected this project to change our lives, but many residents now feel abandoned,” Tirwomwe said.

He questioned why residents continue participating in elections while still lacking basic public services enjoyed by other communities within the district.

CUE IN………………………TIRWOMWE RR

Meanwhile, Kashambya Sub-county LC5 Councillor Joram Niwagaba also expressed concern over the failure to complete several road projects within the sub-county. He pledged to follow up the matter with the responsible authorities to ensure residents receive the services they deserve.

Niwagaba acknowledged that poor infrastructure remains one of the major challenges affecting service delivery and economic development in rural communities.

CUE IN……………………. NIWAGABA RR

Responding to the complaints, Rukiga District Engineer Deogratious Mutabazi clarified that the Shillings 1.06 billion project was originally designed to cover only three kilometres of road and the construction of a reinforced concrete bridge.

Mutabazi explained that the contract was awarded and supervised at the ministry level, adding that although the contractor delayed completion of the works, the agreed contractual obligations were eventually fulfilled within the approved scope of the project.

He noted that the planned road distance was never intended to extend up to Nyarubisi Village, which explains why residents there did not directly benefit from the completed works.

However, Mutabazi assured residents that district leaders would engage relevant authorities and development partners to explore possibilities of extending the road in future phases so that Nyarubisi residents can also benefit from improved infrastructure.

The residents are now calling upon government officials and leaders at both district and national levels to prioritize the extension and rehabilitation of the road, arguing that improved transport infrastructure is essential for social services, trade, and economic transformation in the area.

Read Next Article