Transport on Mbale-Tirinyi highway paralyzed as residents demonstrate

MBALE.

Transport was paralyzed along Mbale-Tirinyi- Kampala highway today as angry residents demonstrated over the poor state of the road. 

Residents are now vexed over the deteriorating state of the road and government’s delay to finalize its construction for about two years. The residents rejected Dott services limited, demanding a new contractor. They accuse Dott services of shoddy work. 

Passengers from Kampala and Mbale were seen stranded as their vehicles were blocked by the angry protesters a few meters from Doko Trading Centre. 

The protesters; comprised of bodaboda riders, taxi drivers said the road has deep potholes and dust. 

The protesters erected barricades and burnt tyres in the middle of the road and used big stones to block traffic for several hours.

Mr Fred Maskoyi a taxi driver said the road has claimed a number of lives due its poor state. 

“We are getting accidents on a daily basis and very many people have died while others are injured. Other people have opted to use Tororo- Mbale road which is far,” said Mr Masokoyi.

Mr Issac Nagwere a boda boda rider said government has a hidden agenda on this road.

He added that government wasted billions of shillings on age limit which only benefits few people. 

“We are disappointed by the NRM government that we can pay taxes only to get nothing back. If government can’t work on this road then what is their work,” he said. 

Ms Nagawa Mugala a mother said government officials are after their stomachs. 

“We have complained about this road but nothing has happened, “said Ms Mugala. 

She said they have given government an ultimatum of one month to make sure the road is rehabilitated or else they will plant bananas. 

Ms Mugala described the road as a total mess. “UNRA are painting a bad image of the government and the people have the right to demand better services,” she said. 

The Mbale UNRA station Engineer Mr George Ssonko when contacted on phone said UNRA is on ground pouring water on the road to contain dust. 

The UNRA spokesperson, Mr Mark Ssali told Daily Monitor that they had procured a new contractor, China Civil Engineering and Construction corporation (CCECC) to resume work, but they were held back after Dott services ran to court over what it termed as unlawful termination of their contract. 

“It’s not true that UNRA (Uganda national Roads Authority) is not doing anything, but we understand the concerns of the citizens about the state of the road and we are working hard behind the scenes to ensure this does not go on for much longer,“ said Mr Ssali. 

The construction work on the road stopped in May after UNRA terminated its contract with Dott services, accusing the contractor of failure to comply with the contractual obligations and was not willing to be supervised by UNRA officials. Plans to rehabilitate it have since stalled.