As a result of the numerous protests, UNRA teamed up with Mbarara University of Science and Technology and ADMUND Source and Contact, an advertising agency to set up a flyover connecting to the University main gate at Shillings 200M.
In 2012, students of Mbarara University of Science and Technology- MUST went up in arms after a number of their lecturers and colleagues were knocked dead by speeding motorists while crossing the busy Mbarara- Kabale Highway.
They faulted Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA for failing to take measures to control the speed of motorists. As a result of the numerous protests, UNRA teamed up with Mbarara University of Science and Technology and ADMUND Source and Contact, an advertising agency to set up a flyover connecting to the University main gate at Shillings 200M.
The flyover was meant to replace the Zebra crossing and humps that had almost failed to have any effect on the speed of motorists. But two years after the construction of the flyover, students have failed to utilise it and instead prefer to struggle with the busy traffic as they connect to the university.
Engineer Asaph Abenaitwe, the Mbarara UNRA station manager faults the university management for failing to put in place a policy to compel students to use the flyover despite the huge sums of money spent on it.
According to Abenaitwe, utilising the flyover would help minimise accidents along the busy road. He however, discloses that they have completed plans together with Mbarara Traffic Police to block MUST students and other road users from crossing via the main road so as to use the flyover in order to reduce congestion.
Simon Eloba, the MUST Guild President admits that most of the students have adamantly refused to use the flyover. Eloba says the students complain of spending between five to ten minutes to reach campus when they use the flyover and yet the same distance takes only a minute to cross from the main road.
//Cue in: “Students are really…….
Cue out…own benefits.â€//
Denis Lukaya, the MUST Public Relations Officer faults Mbarara Municipal Council, UNRA and Traffic Police for alleged failure to sensitise the public on the usage of the flyover.
He says since there were no guidelines on the usage of the flyover, the administration took it for granted that Admund source set it up purposely for displaying advertisement bill boards which does not benefit them.
Lukaya however asks students to utilise the flyover for fitness reasons.
