More than 40 trucks loaded with merchandise are stuck along the Katuugo-Kaweweta road in Nakaseke district after the collapse of various culverts on the tributaries of Lugogo River. Kaweweta Army Training School, residents of Kinyogogga and Kinoni Sub County have also been cut off. Katuugo-Kaweweta road connects Nakaseke to Kampala-Gulu Highway. Fred Rwabirinda, the Councillor Kinyogogga sub county says Uganda National Roads Authority repaired and hurriedly installed new culverts along the road last week.
He says that when some trucks used the road on Sunday, the culverts caved in. Rwabirinda says the collapse of the bridge has paralysed transport along the road. He says that some cattle traders have abandoned the weekly cattle market, something that is likely to cost Kinyogogga sub county over six million shillings in taxes.
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Goeffrey Kisinzi, a livestock trader says that they are stuck with over 50,000 litres of milk in trucks. He says they are likely to pour the milk because it has gone over delays on the road and lack of preservatives to keep it for a longtime. Kisinzi says that the loss is likely to push them into further poverty. David Ssekitto, a charcoal dealer says they have spent almost a week on road and they have run out of food. Ssekitto says that they have been appealing to UNRA to upgrade the culverts and build a strong bridge in vain.
John Kisakye, a truck driver says that he has lost over 250,000 shillings in fuel because traders who hired him refused to pay him yet hed had to return to his station in Wobulenzi town council. Kisakye says he was going to pick cattle from Kinyogogga market and transport it to Kampala for sell. Dan Ssenkubuge, the chairman Katuugo motorists Association says they suspect that the money allocated for the road repairs was embezzled leading to shoddy works. He says they want Abraham Byandala, the Minister of Works and transport to investigate the works and take action against the concerned officials.
However, George Inyensiko, the Luweero UNRA Station engineer dismissed the allegations of embezzlement arguing that the broken culverts were still under construction. Inyensiko says a team of workers have been dispatched to ensure the culverts are worked on in time and the road is re-opened. Last year, Residents of Nakaseke rejected two roads that were worked on by UNRA and MML Construction Company citing shoddy work. Kasozi-Kyamukonda and Ngoma-Kinyogogga roads were worked upon at a cost of 308 million shillings but they lacked culverts.
