Kalagi residents face a 15-year pothole crisis worsened by a near-drowning incident. The government pledged to repair the pothole, caused by UNRA excavation, for 600 million Ugandan Shillings.
Residents of Kalagi, Mukono District, face a 15-year-old pothole crisis, which a recent near-drowning incident has exacerbated. The pothole, a result of UNRA excavation, has eroded the road and damaged homes. The government has pledged to repair it, with work estimated to cost 600 million Ugandan Shillings.
Residents of Kalagi in Kyampisi Sub-county, Mukono District, are living in fear and frustration due to a massive, menacing pothole that has developed in the middle of their road, severely disrupting their daily lives and safety.
The community describes the pothole as a dangerous, water-filled pit. The situation became particularly alarming when two children nearly drowned after falling into it, which had been filled with water. Residents report that the pothole formed after a team from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) excavated the area in search of gravel and then abandoned the site without restoring it.
The pothole has been a problem for 15 years, constantly eroding the road and damaging nearby homes. The local chairperson, Ssalongo Sulaiman Musisi, confirmed that it has become a major crisis for the area. The community feels utterly neglected, stating that every leader who has visited has only taken photographs and left without taking any concrete action to solve the problem, leaving them in a perpetual state of despair.
The dire condition of the road has also alarmed residents and businesses, who have registered their complaints with their Member of Parliament, Honourable Ronald Kibuule, seeking his intervention. In response, Kibuule has committed to pressuring the relevant authorities, explaining that the national leadership is aware of the issue and has already directed the responsible roads agency to address it. He urged residents and business owners to cooperate with the contractors once work begins and to avoid vandalism.
A representative from the Ministry of Works and Transport, Mr Jacob Asiimwe, has announced that the repair work on the pothole is scheduled to begin. He stated the project is estimated to cost 600 million Ugandan Shillings. He appealed to the community to provide clear access for the construction vehicles, including trucks and tractors, and to maintain cooperation with the workers to ensure the project is completed effectively.
