West Budama Residents Take Matters into Their Own Hands as Roads Deteriorate

With no government assistance forthcoming, residents have been using basic tools to improve the roads temporarily, knowing their efforts will not provide a lasting solution.

Residents of West Budama North East Constituency have resorted to self-help as the region's roads deteriorate into near-impassable conditions, with massive potholes and broken bridges crippling movement.

Frustrated by the lack of government action, locals have banded together to fill potholes with soil in an effort to make the roads accessible to essential services.

Despite a recent government allocation of Shs 1 billion for road repairs across Tororo District, West Budama North East was the only constituency excluded from the funding.

This omission has left roads like Merikit-Paya and Pambaya-Busolwe in a deplorable state, disrupting transportation of both people and goods.

With no government assistance forthcoming, residents have been using basic tools to improve the roads temporarily, knowing their efforts will not provide a lasting solution.

"We are tired of losing our loved ones because of bad roads. Most roads here cannot be accessed by either motorcycles or vehicles,” one resident shared.

The decaying infrastructure is also taking a toll on the local economy, as farmers struggle to transport their produce to markets.

"If you have produce to sell, you can't find buyers. And the few who make it through the roads end up selling at very low prices,” said Wekira Moses, a local farmer.

Richard Owere Machika, a resident leading the initiative, urged district authorities to provide marram to improve the roads further.

"Our plea is for the district to supply marram to pour where we have dug. If the roads remain as they are and it rains, accessibility will still be a problem,” he said.

However, Tororo District Chairperson John Okea has downplayed the possibility of immediate intervention, citing insufficient funds for road maintenance.

"The money we receive is not enough to work on all roads at once. We ask for patience as we plan for better road infrastructure," Okea said.

Despite these assurances, residents remain doubtful, feeling that their area has been neglected for too long.

They continue to demand urgent action to prevent further loss of lives and economic hardship caused by the poor road infrastructure.

With the rainy season fast approaching, locals fear their temporary fixes will soon be washed away, worsening an already dire situation.

Their hope now lies in whether local authorities will prioritize their calls for urgent road rehabilitation before it is too late.