James Masuba, another resident, says with the bad roads in Bumasobo, it’s expensive to use vehicles, saying this affects their returns at the end of the day. He says motorists are charging them highly compared to donkeys. He however, decried the low speed at which donkeys move.
Donkeys are fast
becoming the favorable transport means in some parts of Bugisu Sub region because
of the bad roads resulting from heavy rains.
Some of the roads
affected by rains in Sironko include Mutufu-Bukyabo, Nangoli-Butandiga and Buyaga-Buluganya roads
among others. The rains have also
affected Bulambuli-Moroto road in Bulambuli district, which has made the
movement of both humans and goods a menace.,
Because of the bad
roads donkeys have become common in Butandiga, Bukyabo and the neighboring
areas in Sironko district. They are used to carry produce like onions, tomatoes
and coffee to Mutufu market and other major centers.
Dison Masha, a farmer says they turned donkey transport because their produce
had started rotting away due to transport challenges.
Lumasaba bite
//Cue in: “Senge omulimi…
Cue out:…wade daa”//
He says donkeys can easily maneuver through the bad roads and work is done on
time. “Our harvest is rotting on the way. The only available means of transport is
donkeys as vehicles have increased their fare. Our leaders should lobby government
to fix some of the roads,” he said.
James Masuba, another resident, says with the bad roads in Bumasobo, it’s
expensive to use vehicles, saying this affects their returns at the end of the
day. He says motorists are charging them highly compared to donkeys. He however, decried
the low speed at which donkeys move.
Robert Gimei, who owns donkeys, says he
charges Shillings 5000 for every 3kilometres. “I learnt that a
donkey is a very good animal that should be put to work all the time. And when
one does not use it, it looks at them as an enemy because it has to utilize its
energy,” Gimei said.
Sam Namugongo, the
Bukyabo Sub county LC III chairperson, says they have bad community access
roads, which affects service delivery and affects transportation of produce to
markets. Namugongo says many roads in the sub county need to be rehabilitated to
allow residents easy access to social services.
Lmasaba bite
//Cue in: “Bitu byesi batu…
Cue out:…umugali nabi”//
Andrew Wasukira, the Sironko District Engineer, says residents need to explore
alternative transport means because the continuous rains have battered roads. He
appeals to residents to remain calm, saying the roads will be fixed after the
heavy rains.
AYUBU KIRINYA
Freelancer