Sylvia
Residents of Kisakyabairu village, Kaswa parish, Busoro Sub County in Kabarole District, have expressed deep concern and hardship following the collapse of the Kisakyabairu Bridge, caused by heavy rains on Saturday.
In an interview with Jubilee Radio, local residents shared the challenges they currently face due to losing their only access bridge, which connected them to neighboring villages and essential services.
Bridge of hope
Peter Tinkasimire , the area Local Council Chairperson, explained that the bridge had been crucial in linking the community to schools, markets, gardens, and health centers in neighboring areas such as Kirere health center, Nyamigongo, Ntuuro, and Bwabya. He lamented that without the bridge, the residents have no other route to access these vital services.
“The bridge was built by the community at their own expense, with no support from the government, and only minimal assistance from the LC3 chairperson, who also lacks a budget for such projects, a reason it couldn’t last longer.” Said Tinkasimire
Locals narrate their grievances
Despite numerous requests for help from the district, Tinkasimire said no action has been taken, yet the very bridge since its construction and its sorry state has led tragic deaths of at least 13 people who drowned while attempting to cross the river.
He added that currently, a good number of school children are forced to stay in their homes due to failure to connect to their respective schools.
One of the primary concerns among the other residents is their inability to access their gardens in neighboring villages, where they cultivate crops. Many residents fear that their crops may now be at risk from elephants that have been destroying farmland, as well as from potential thefts due to the lack of a safe passage.
Grace Birungi, a local resident, explained the financial strain caused by the bridge collapse narrating that she spends upwards of 10,000 shillings to transport her children to schools such as Bwabya and Mpumbu Primary Schools, as well as to access her agricultural land in Nyamigongo and Ntuuro.
Birungi shared that she had previously grown crops near her home, but due to elephant damage in her area, she was forced to relocate to other parts, only to face the setback of the bridge’s collapse.
Leo Mugisa, the LC3 chairperson, confirmed that the sub-county had written to the district for assistance, and while the district has promised to address the issue in the 2024/2025 financial year, the residents are still waiting. In the meantime, Leo urged the community to refrain from using the damaged bridge and assured them that a temporary bridge would be constructed within two weeks while awaiting a permanent solution.
The collapse of the Kisakyabairu Bridge has left the community in a difficult situation, and residents are hopeful that their cries for help will be addressed before more lives are lost and further hardships are endured.
