Residents of Bituntu Cell in Nyakyera Town Council, Ntungamo District, have raised alarm over a massive gully that has cut through the Ngugo–Bituntu–Kikona–Kiziba–Nyakyera road, leaving a dangerous crater that has rendered a key transport route nearly impassable.
The damaged road, which serves as an important link between Ntungamo and Rwampara districts, has been heavily eroded by running water, with sections of the roadway collapsing and the remaining surface continuing to deteriorate with each rainfall.
Residents fear the situation could lead to serious accidents involving motorists, schoolchildren and expectant mothers, especially as the rainy season intensifies.
According to local leaders, the gully has already become a daily hazard for road users and has disrupted access to essential services and markets.
“We are seeing vehicles getting stuck and others nearly falling into the gully. Vehicles carrying matooke are losing their produce because of the poor state of the road. When someone falls sick, we are sometimes forced to carry them on wooden stretchers,” said Benon Rwijungu.
Residents say the danger becomes even greater at night when visibility is poor, making it difficult for motorists unfamiliar with the area to identify the damaged section of the road.
“This road connects Rwampara and Ntungamo districts. At the moment, we do not have any road to use because even the shortcut residents had created has been washed away. As leaders, have you decided to leave us neglected?” asked Able Arinda.
The road was originally opened through community efforts to improve local mobility but has since grown into a vital economic corridor used by farmers and traders transporting coffee, cattle, matooke and other agricultural produce between the two districts.
However, residents say the deteriorating infrastructure is now increasing transport costs, delaying movement and affecting local businesses.
“As people of Rwampara and Kiziba, we no longer have any connection. The road is no more and our matooke is ripening. Our harvests cannot be transported even to Ntungamo Town,” said resident Silver Rwamunono.
Another resident, Frank Guma, described the community’s frustration, saying residents are living with constant anxiety over the state of the road.
Concerns are also growing that continued heavy rains could further widen the gully and place pedestrians at risk of being swept away while attempting to cross the damaged section.
The situation highlights broader infrastructure challenges facing Ntungamo District, which has a road network of more than 2,000 kilometres. District officials have previously cited inadequate funding and limited road maintenance equipment as major obstacles to keeping roads in good condition.
Despite the challenges, there may be some relief ahead. Ntungamo District Chief Administrative Officer Fedelis Kiiza said Nyakyera Town Council is expected to receive Shs200 million in the 2026/27 financial year under a transitional development support programme to improve roads within its jurisdiction.
“The good news I want to give the people of Nyakyera Town Council is that next financial year they have been allocated Shs200 million to maintain roads within the jurisdiction of the town council,” Kiiza said.
Residents are now calling on authorities to prioritise emergency repairs before further damage occurs and before the road becomes completely impassable.