Mpigi Residents Demand Action Over Dangerous Gravel Pit Left by Road Project

Residents of Kinyinabo Village in Buwama Sub-county, Mpigi District, have appealed to authorities to intervene and ensure a dangerous gravel pit allegedly left behind during the rehabilitation of the Kinyinabo–Munyonyo–Senyondo Road is filled.

Led by village chairperson Edward Ssenyonjo and resident Olivia Namakula, the residents say they have spent more than eight months seeking assistance from district authorities without success.

The Kinyinabo–Munyonyo–Senyondo Road is among the roads rehabilitated by Mpigi District using funds from the government's annual road maintenance grant. The project reportedly received Shs97.5 million during the 2025/2026 financial year.

According to residents, district officials sourced gravel for the road project from Namakula’s land in Kinyinabo Trading Centre after identifying it as a convenient source. However, they claim the terms agreed upon were never honoured.

Namakula said district officials approached her and agreed to pay her Shs1.3 million for the gravel, excavate only a small section of her land, and later restore the site by filling the pit after the road works were completed.

“They told me they wanted to obtain gravel from my land for the road project. We agreed that they would compensate me and restore the land after the works. I had no problem with that,” Namakula said.

She alleges that before any payment was made, contractors proceeded with excavation and later expanded the pit while she was away in Kampala.

“When I returned, I found that almost the entire plot had been excavated. My house was left surrounded by deep pits on all sides. I was shocked,” she said.

Namakula further claims that officials later informed her that the gravel initially obtained was insufficient, prompting them to excavate more land, including areas around her house.

“They removed the gravel, demolished my house and promised to compensate me and restore the land, but up to now nothing has been done,” she added.

She says repeated appeals for compensation and restoration of the land have gone unanswered.

Local residents have condemned what they describe as negligence and unfair treatment of the landowner.

“They found a woman with a good plot and a two-roomed house, demolished it and took gravel from her land. Yet the agreement they made with her has never been fulfilled,” some residents said.

Residents also warned that the abandoned pit poses a serious safety risk to the community. The excavation site is located near the main road, three schools, a water collection point, and a busy boda boda route.

“Whenever it rains, the pit fills with water and looks like a lake. Children play around it every day. We fear that someone may lose their life before authorities take action,” residents said.

Village chairperson Edward Ssenyonjo accused district officials of breaching their agreement with the landowner and called for accountability.

“I personally witnessed the discussions where officials promised to compensate the landowner, restore the land and rebuild what was destroyed. Up to now none of that has happened,” Ssenyonjo said.

He urged the government to investigate how funds allocated for sourcing gravel were spent, questioning why compensation was never paid despite the extensive excavation.

“We want government to establish whether money for purchasing gravel was included in the project budget and, if so, where it went. The landowner was never compensated, her house was destroyed and the pit remains open,” he said.

Residents have also called on oversight agencies to inspect the road project, arguing that the road itself was poorly executed and is already deteriorating.

“They dumped gravel on the road and disappeared. The pit remains open with heaps of soil around it, while the road is already in a poor state. We need an investigation into the entire project,” residents said.

Efforts to obtain a comment from district leaders who were in office when the road project was implemented were unsuccessful. Attempts to reach former District Chairperson Martin Ssejjemba were not successful.

However, the current District Chairperson, Simon Peter Kawuki, said that since assuming office, he has received several complaints about poorly implemented road projects and pledged to investigate the matter.

“We have received a number of complaints from residents regarding roads that were poorly constructed and left communities suffering. Investigations will be conducted, and all those responsible will be required to explain their actions,” Kawuki said.

The 14-kilometre Kinyinabo–Munyonyo–Senyondo Road is one of several roads rehabilitated under Mpigi District’s road maintenance programme. However, residents claim that some projects have left communities with unresolved grievances and safety concerns.

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