The Cost of Dust

Daily struggles

For residents and business owners, the ongoing construction has become a source of daily hardship. Traffic congestion has reached unprecedented levels, with commuters spending hours stuck in gridlock. Public transportation, once reliable, has become unpredictable, leaving many stranded or late for work. Businesses, especially those reliant on foot traffic, have seen a sharp decline in customers.

The constant dust, noise, and restricted access have driven people away, forcing some businesses to close their doors permanently. For others, the increased cost of transporting goods through alternative routes has eaten into already thin profit margins. The squeaking engines, honking horns and speeding motorcycles from almost all directions set the stage. A taxi, a skeletal beast of rusted metal and fury; its body a patchwork of welded steel, almost bouncing off the potholed ground as it moved, it seemed hectic, both for the taxi and passengers.

This used to be a road; well then it was a road with potholes, but the potholes soon colonised the remaining bits of tarmac that it eventually became a pothole where tarmac was a reminder of the past that was. Then, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) got an idea to dig it all up; the locals cheered, they believed they were digging it up to repair it, but they were wrong.

The digging was all there was, today, they travel on a massive pothole with bits of road. Cars create storms of dust that wash over vendor stalls, houses and the unfortunate pedestrians whose clothes become a patchwork of dust and sweat.

This is an ordinary day on the Mpererwe-Lusanja Road. For the past three years, residents in the area have been hopeful their road would be repaired in vain. The promises, however, keep coming and becoming more elaborate. For instance, while he was still Deputy Director of Public and Corporate Affairs at KCCA, Simon Kasyate named the road as one of those on schedule for an overhaul in September 2023. However, two years later, the situation on the road is only getting worse.

In 2024, when Ugandans online started exhibiting Kampala roads in dire situations, this road was one of the many that were heavily exhibited. Whether it was because of the exhibition or not, the rode was dug up once again only for works to slow down at the dust stage.

From Bugolobi, Nakawa, Kitintale, Namuwongo, Mpererwe, Makindye, to Bulindo and Najjera, it is hard imagining one route to the city centre where one can ably avoid dust. This has almost rewritten social life in these areas, dictating how people go about their day-to-day activities, the routes they use, where they buy food to what they wear.

“I avoid wearing brighter colours, they can easily make you look irresponsible, and people may think you are just a dirty vagabond yet it is the dust. Sometimes all you need is a single trip and you are all covered in dust,” says Muzamir Nsubuga, a boda boda rider who has plied his trade on the road for the past four years.He says to avoid dust, most of his clients have chosen to use a different route which is somehow longer than the usual, “and they insist on paying the same amount.”

A dream turned to dust

When Blue Orchid Pharmacy opened up in Mpererwe, it was clear the proprietors had big plans, they were the only pharmacy with a parking lot big enough to hold about 15 cars at the same time, and were by the road, someone could easily branch off to buy medication before going on with their journey.

But they did not plan for the dust which today has become their biggest challenge. “Dust devalues the medicine, see, this medicine is well packaged but after dust hits the boxes, they will look older than they actually are. Someone will think you are selling them an expired syrup and may never come back,” says Marian Muhumuza, a pharmacist at Blue Orchid.

But of course, the pharmacy has also gone through massive renovations such as adding an extra glass door to help them protect the pharmacy from dust but still be able to display. “Our customer base moved, they use other routes and roads to avoid dust, the people driving or using bodas, the potential clients of a pharmacy no longer use this road as much,” she says.

Joseph Nabede, an attendant at a hardware store also says that dust affects most of his products, he deals in tiles, toilet seats and bathtubs, among other things. On an ordinary day at about 10am, his white tiles and bathtubs are brownish, he has to clean them at least three times a day to avoid making a wrong impression, in case a customer comes through.

“When a customer comes and the particular bathtub they are interested in is not speckling clean, they tend to believe we are selling recycled things,” he says

Unfulfilled promises

For six years, Samson Yiga has served as the LC1 Chairman of Goma Misindye Cell, Misindye Ward, in Mukono Municipality.

Having lived in the area for more than two decades, he has witnessed its transformation from a rural setting to a bustling urban space. But despite this development, the issue of a dusty unpaved road that runs through the community remains unresolved. “It has been like this for as long as I can remember. The dust is too much. It is affecting businesses, rental prices, and even people’s health. Many renters are considering leaving,” Yiga says.

The road, which stretches from Misindye Junction to Kiyunga and Kabimbiri, was supposedly earmarked for tarmacking by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). According to Yiga, two years ago, a team from UNRA visited the area, conducted a survey, and even promised to begin work that same year. However, the promises have not materialised. “We met with them. They assured us that valuers and surveyors would come to determine the road’s path.

But after that, nothing. We have followed up multiple times, but we get no response,” Yiga shares. The delay has had a devastating impact on the local economy. Businesses struggle as dust settles on their merchandise, discouraging customers. Rental units that once housed families and businesses now sit empty as tenants relocate to cleaner, better-maintained areas.

Business owners such as Nicholas and Jude Natukunda are struggling. Nicholas, who sells Irish potatoes and fruits on the roadside, says dust drives away customers and affects his health. “Some people look at the dust covered produce and just walk away,” he laments. Meanwhile, Natukunda, who runs a wood workshop, says dust ruins his products and lowers sales. “You display a well-sprayed door, and in minutes, it is dirty,” he explains.

The toll is evident. The two men say they have developed chronic flu which they think is due to the dust they inhale daily. They say they spend at least Shs10,000 on herbal medicine and over the counter cough medication to be able to go to work every day. “If you are sick, maybe you get a break from the dust. But other than that, you have to make it your daily diet,” Natukunda says.

Struggling to keep business afloat

Green grocer Joseph Mboowa, who has been in Misindye for 17 years, faces similar challenges. He says the dust settles on his produce, making it look old. “Even when you have just shopped, the dust dirties the fruits and vegetables, and you may think they are not fresh,” Mboowa says. “It causes us losses.

Those responsible should help us, even if it is just watering the dusty road. “When the road was widened two years ago, Mboowa and his fellow traders were hopeful it would be properly upgraded. “We thought they were going to make it tarmacked, but they left it like that,” he recalls.

Mboowa believes if the road were properly constructed or at least watered regularly, the situation would improve significantly. He also thinks local leaders, including Members of Parliament, could help amplify their concerns. “I understand MPs are not in charge of constructing the roads, but they can help in amplifying our voices,” he says.

Hellen Nakayi who has been running a small business in Misindye for a year, selling home items like soap, toilet paper, snacks, and foodstuffs such as groundnuts and spaghetti says her customer base has grown during this time though she still struggles daily with dust from the busy Misindye-Joggo road.

“The biggest problem I face is the dusty road. When you bring products and the dust settles on them, customers hesitate to buy,” Nakayi says.

To keep her items looking presentable, Nakayi cleans constantly. “I clean every minute so customers find the items clean, especially the snacks,” she explains. Despite her efforts, the dust remains a persistent challenge.

On average, she makes around Shs70,000 per day, but she knows the business could do better with improved conditions. “If the dust problem is fixed, I believe more customers would come,” Nakayi adds with hope.

Sylvia Bahemurwaki, another vendor, sells fish, avocados, tomatoes, eggplants, and other foodstuffs in Namisindye. Like many vendors along the Misindye-Joggo Road, she struggles with the relentless dust stirred up by heavy trucks and trailers. Bahemurwaki covers her fish with polythene to protect it from dust but worries that it drives away customers who cannot see the product.

According to Natukunda heavy trucks, including and trailers transporting materials from Bukerere and the stone quarry in Nakagere, pass by every 10 minutes, stirring up clouds of dust that engulf the area. “We have dust from morning to evening. Those of us who make furniture can no longer produce good quality ones because once we spray the furniture, the dust settles on it, making the surface rough.” The dust problem extends beyond business woes to health concerns.

Masks offer little protection, as wearing one while working with wood can lead to difficulty in breathing. “Coughing has become part of life,” Natukunda admits. “We are getting diseases from the dust. The situation is not good.”

Health effects of dust

A recent study shows that fine particulate matter air pollution in Kampala is above the WHO Air Quality Guideline value, likely resulting in substantial adverse health effects and premature death. While further monitoring is necessary, there is a clear need for control measures to improve air quality in Kampala city.

A study by National Library of medicine on effects of dust exposure on the respiratory health symptoms and pulmonary functions of street sweepers in the municipality of Zahedan in Iran found that respiratory symptoms, including coughing and wheezing, were significantly more common in the street sweepers than in the controls (people working from offices).

Coughing and wheezing were five and six times more common, respectively, in the exposed group than in the control group. Therefore, it can be inferred that the street sweepers’ exposure to dust increased their chances of developing respiratory symptoms.

The direct exposure of street sweepers to organic and mineral dust from sweeping and the lack of proper respiratory protection equipment can lead to respiratory symptoms in this population. Dust particles, smoke and other biological substances irritate the respiratory system, causing coughing and other respiratory complications.

Unhappy motorists

For motorist who travel from the dusty areas of Bulindo, Kira, Najjera, and Kaliwajala, the frustration and stress increases every day. Giovanni Buyinza laments the constant need to keep their cars clean has become a burdensome expense. “I leave home after washing my car, but by the time I reach Bugolobi, where I work, it looks like I’ve been in a motor rally,” Buyinza laments.

“I have to get the car washed again. On a daily basis, I end up spending about Shs30,000 just to keep my car presentable. Every week, I have to take it for a detailed wash, which costs between Shs50,000 and Shs70,000. It is becoming too costly,” Buyinza says.

The financial strain is compounded by the emotional toll of navigating poorly maintained roads. Dust clouds, potholes, and uneven surfaces not only damage vehicles but also increase the risk of accidents. For many, the joy of owning a car has been replaced by frustration and stress.