In a disappointing turn of events, the residents of Barawa Ward in Kapchorwa Municipality have taken over mainatenence of their roads over the authority’s failure to respond to the public’s outcry over the poor state of the roads in the area. This inaction has led to the closure of several businesses, including those that had rented space in the affected areas, as reported by Kapsandui Darius.
A sebeination.com open letter addressed to the Mayor of Kapchorwa Municipality, which highlighted the dire situation of the roads, has seemingly fallen on deaf ears. Frustrated by the lack of response from their elected officials, locals have now taken it upon themselves to repair the roads.
In a grassroots effort, community members are now appealing to road users to contribute as little as 1,000 shillings to facilitate the necessary repairs. This includes the procurement of hard cores, fuel for the truck ferrying murrum, and providing lunch for the volunteers.
The municipality’s failure to address the road issues is even more concerning given the recent disbursement of 19.3 billion shillings to Municipal Local Governments by the Uganda Road Fund on October 24, 2024. This substantial funding was intended to improve the infrastructure in the region, but it appears that the Kapchorwa Municipality has successfully pocketed the quarter’s 250 million out of the financial year’s 1 billion, without any visible improvements to the roads.
The locals, having given up on their leaders, are now taking matters into their own hands. This self-driven initiative is a testament to the community’s resilience and determination to find solutions where their elected officials have failed.
The situation in Kapchorwa Municipality serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountable and responsive governance. When local authorities neglect the basic needs of the people, it inevitably leads to a breakdown of trust and a shift towards grassroots action.
As the community members come together to repair the roads, it is hoped that the Kapchorwa Municipality will take note and address the concerns raised by the public. Failure to do so may lead to further erosion of confidence in the local government and a continued deterioration of the municipality’s infrastructure.
