{UAH} Allani am coming for a visit to kisoro -New Kabale-Kisoro road spurs growth
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New Kabale-Kisoro road spurs growth
An aerial view of the Kabale-Kisoro-Kyanika-Bunagana Road, which has led to the rise of several trading centres and markets.
Posted Friday, July 26 2013 at 01:00
Kabale- The construction of the Kabale-Kisoro-Kyanika-Bunagana Road has spurred economic and social growth in western Uganda.
The new road has boosted trade between Uganda and neighbouring Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kabale District chairperson Patrick Keihwa says the road has made travelling and transportation of goods easier.
"Many trading centres and markets have emerged because of this newly-constructed road. It takes about two hours to travel from Kabale to Kisoro unlike in the past when people took over six hours to cover the same distance.
Health service delivery has tremendously improved because referred patients from health centres along this road are easily and comfortably transport to hospitals in Kabale town," Mr Keihwa says.
The construction of Kabale-Kisoro-Kyanika-Bunagana Road started in September 2007 and was completed in 2012. The 100km road was constructed by SBI International at a cost of Shs154 billion.
Mr Keihwa says due to the construction of the road, hydro power was extended from Kabale Town to Kisoro District.
He adds that the new road has boosted tourism in Kigezi sub-region and many tourists use the new road to travel to Bwindi and Mghahinga national parks to see the famous mountain gorillas and other animals.
He, however, says several accidents have occurred on the new road due to speeding by motorists.
"There is need for the construction of several humps along these sharp corners, many of which exist on steep slopping hills along this road, to check the excited drivers who speed, causing death through reckless driving," Mr Keihwa says.
Mr Bonefasi Munyaruganda, an irish potato farmer in Muko Sub-county, Kabale, where the road passes, says it has made transportation of his produce to the market easier.
He says unlike in the past, when he was compelled to transport his produce on a dilapidated road for 50km to Kabale Town, today traders come up to his home in search of produce.
"Traders from Kampala, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo find me at home to buy my produce. The construction of this road has also led an increase in price of Irish potatoes from Shs30,000 in the past to Shs90,000 currently. Cabbages have increased from Shs100 to Shs600, sorghum from Shs600 to Shs1500 per kg. The prices have increased because there is competition for our produce by several traders, some of whom currently travel from South Sudan," Mr Munyaruganda says.
Mr Rogers Mugabi, a businessman, says that timber trade and iron ore mining have been boosted by the new road.
He adds that timber from the Hamurwa Sub-county in Kabale and the neighbouring Kanungu District is now easily accessible by traders from Kampala and Rwanda.
"Me and my colleagues no longer spend money to hire timber stores in Kabale Town because the timber dealers find us at our village homes. The same thing applies to the iron ore dealers. I am happy that people in our villages earn some money by selling some of their agricultural products to truck drivers that either come to load timber or iron ore," Mr Mugabi says.
Mr Musafiri Neza, who is involved in the transportation business on the Kabale-Kisoro-Kyanika-Bunagana road, says its construction has led to reduction in the time spent travelling. He adds that he now spends less on repairing his vehicle, unlike in the past when it would always break down due to the deplorable state of the road.
"It was a must to visit the garage every time one arrives in Kabale or in Kisoro towns after using the Kabale-Kisoro road but now it can take two or three months," Mr Neza says.
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