By Sylvia
Residents and road users along Kijura Road in Kabarole District have raised alarm over excessive dust, which they say is causing serious respiratory health challenges and disrupting livelihoods.
The concerned residents report that the situation has worsened during the dry season, with thick dust clouds dominating the road, largely attributed to prolonged sunshine and what they describe as inadequate mitigation measures by the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Musiime Robert, a boda boda rider, expressed deep concern about the health risks faced by road users. He noted that many riders are experiencing persistent coughing, breathing difficulties, and in some cases, pneumonia, which they associate with prolonged exposure to dust.
“We are worried that if this problem is not addressed urgently, it could lead to more severe conditions such as chronic lung infections or even cancer in the future,” he said.
Local business owners are also counting losses. Kemigisa Laila, a shopkeeper along the road, revealed that dust has significantly affected her merchandise, leading to financial losses.
“The dust settles on all my goods, making them unattractive and sometimes unusable. This has greatly affected my business,” she explained.
Makune Simon, a Resident from Mumbagane says daily life has become increasingly difficult that even basic practices such as covering food with banana leaves are no longer effective, because dust penetrates easily and damages household property.
In response, residents are calling on the Kabarole District leadership, particularly District Chairperson Ruben Kimome, to intervene. They are urging collaboration with the Works Office in Fort Portal to deploy measures such as regular watering of the road using the district water bowser to reduce dust levels.