Unending complaints over the poor state of the Hoima-Masindi road have finally attracted the attention of the Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA.
For years now the road has been poor with drivers threatening to go on strike. It’s because of the road’s poor state that the transport charges had to double from UGX 5,000-UGX10, 000 beginning late last year.
But the situation had worsened especially on the Hoima district’s side of the road as large potholes almost cut off the road at the onset of the rainy season.
Drivers of special hire taxis have been struggling to wade through the potholes. Samuel Asiimwe, a special hire driver, says his car engine has repeatedly broken down because of the potholes on the road.
But National Roads Authority Hoima area has come to the drivers’ rescue and graded the worst spots on the road.
Engineer Jonathan Wazimbe, of the National Roads Authority Hoima area, says they have resealed and graded the potholes around Mparagansi area which were among the worst. Wazimbe explains that UNRA’s intervention was an emergence measure, as issues with the contractor are sorted.
UNRA started work to reseal the potholes and grade part of the worst section of the road on Tuesday.
Marvel contractors were last year hired to gravel the over 50km Hoima-Masindi road stretch. It’s coming to a year now and work has never been completed.
Engineer Wazimbe says UNRA only came in to save drivers from the transport hurdles before a contractor resumes work on the road.
Marvel contractors started work from the Masindi side of the road and they are now in Bulima about 25 kilometers to Hoima.
Engineer Wazimbe explains that Marvel’s one year contract period expired long time warning that the contract could be terminated. Marvel contractors could not be reached for comment.
