Residents in Kigoyera and Kaswa parishes in Kyarusozi Sub County, Kyenjojo district have constructed a bridge to ease transportation of agricultural produce.
The Kigoyera-Kaswa Community Bridge on River Muzizi links Kigoyera and Kaswa to Kibaale District. Residents acted after Kyenjojo district local government failed to construct the bridge, despite several pleas from the locals.
The main economic activity in Kyarusozi is farming and majority of the residents grow maize and bananas. In the past it has been difficult for the farmers to sell their produce to markets neighbouring the two parishes and in Kibaale district.
The bridge which is still under construction was started in January and it cost over 60 million shillings, which was raised by more than 300 people.
Farmers and other community members provided labour by collecting all the stones needed to construct the bridge.
The bridge was constructed using more than 2,000 bags of cement and timber.
Enock Byaruhanga, a resident says that each person from Kaswa and Kigoyera contributed 15,000 shillings for construction of the bridge, after Kyenjojo district authorities said they lacked funds.
Byaruhanga says that before the construction, the river banks used to swell, and some people would die while trying to cross the river by boat to sell their produce in Kibaale district and the neighbouring areas.
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Fred Tumusiime, a farmer says that once the bridge is completed, it will facilitate easy exchange of agricultural commodities across the two neighbouring districts.
Tumusiime says that in the past part of his maize had gone bad because he didn't have where to sell the commodity.
However, despite efforts to have the bridge completed, the residents are facing a number of challenges.
The bridge could present some safety risks, because the residents are using their hands and not equipments for construction.
The bridge also still needs additional financing worth 17 million shillings. Some of the residents have now resorted to collecting money from every person who passes on the bridge, in order to raise the funds.
Gerald Amanyire, the in-charge of the project says that in the next one year, they are hopeful vehicles will also use the bridge.
In a telephone interview, David Magara, the acting Kyenjojo district Engineer, however, said that the district can’t construct the bridge because it is under the central government and not the district. He also says that the works sector is allocated meager resources and can’t fund any activity which is not in the district budget.
He says that they will only offer technical support to the residents.
