The Ministry of Works and Transport has ordered urgent repairs on the Fort Portal–Bundibugyo Road, warning that continued deterioration could soon sever Bundibugyo District from the rest of the country.
State Minister for Works Musa Ecweru, who led a site inspection on the route, directed the Ministry’s technical team and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the contractor on the project, to begin emergency works immediately.
He singled out the section at Mutukula Cell in Kanyansimbi Ward, Bundibugyo Town Council, as particularly dangerous, where erosion and structural weakness have left the road close to collapse.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to ensure that connectivity and communication between Bundibugyo and the rest of the country remains alive,” Ecweru said during the inspection.
The road is a lifeline for the mountainous district in western Uganda, connecting it to Fort Portal and beyond, and facilitating the flow of goods, access to healthcare, and the movement of security forces.
However, the recent heavy rains have left parts of the road nearly impassable, putting pressure on both civilian and administrative operations.
Local leaders applauded the government's quick response, saying the road’s failure would have far-reaching consequences.
“Any further delay would leave Bundibugyo isolated. This road is all we have to connect to essential services,” one local councillor said, adding that the area’s proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo only heightens the urgency.
The Ministry said the immediate works will focus on improving drainage, realigning hazardous segments, and reinforcing road slopes to prevent further landslides.
Officials added that permanent repairs would follow once the road is stabilised.
The Fort Portal–Bundibugyo Road has suffered years of neglect, and residents are now urging the government to prioritise long-term upgrades alongside the emergency fixes.