MASINDI-Residents and some of their leaders in Miirya Sub-county in Masindi district say they are dissatisfied with the poor state of the roads in their area.
The residents expressed their dissatisfaction with Masindi district leaders on Tuesday during a meeting organised by Mid-western Centre for Human Rights and Democracy [MICOD].
The meeting was aimed at seeking solutions to the development issues affecting the subcounty.
The residents said most of the roads connecting their sub-county are impassable, making it hard for them to access different services like markets, education, and health facilities.
Some of the roads, which they say are in a pathetic situation include; Kibaali-Katagurukwa-Balyegomba road, Katagurukwa- Kinumi-Kisindizi road, Isimba- Karwerwe- Kitooka road and Kisindizi-Rwemigaali road.
“We need urgent attention because our residents are suffering. It’s hard for the mothers to access health facilities and also children are finding it hard to access schools,” said Gerald Muhumuza, the speaker of the sub-county council.
Bright Tibigambwa, the district councilor representing Miirya Sub-county said the roads are not maintained at all, adding that even workers who would be slashing the bushes along the roads are not available.
Cosmas Byaruhanga the LCV chairperson Masindi recently decried the low funding towards the roads sector, saying that Masindi district receives only Shs 500 million in a financial year to maintain over 400 kilometres of roads.
“This is very little money that can not work on all the roads in the district. We pray that the central government takes over some roads, which are beyond our capacity. Special consideration must be given to Masindi because we have a poor road network,” he said.
Challenges in education
Muhumuza also explained that they are facing the challenge of limited facilities in schools, such as latrines and classrooms. He cited Kinumi Primary School as one of the schools lacking such facilities.
“Absenteeism of children, school dropout, and early marriages are also rampant in the sub-county. This is because of the poor road network and lack of a secondary school in the area,” he added.
Meanwhile, the sub-county leaders further complained of gender imbalance in some schools in the area.
“We want to know how six female teachers were posted to Kibaali Primary School alongside only one male teacher. This affects teaching, especially when the female teachers go on maternity leave,” said Livingstone Kyotamanya, the LCIII chairperson of Miirya Subcounty.
Responding to some of the issues, Moses Kirya the Masindi district speaker said the issues presented by Miirya Subcounty residents cut across the whole district.
“We are very eager to respond to the situation but we are incapacitated by the low funding to local governments. If the local governments were well funded, we would be seeing a significant change,” he said.
Lawrence Kangula, the executive director MICOD said that they expect the district authorities to act on the issues raised by residents and some leaders.
https://thecooperator.news/residents-irked-by-poor-roads-in-sebei-sub-region/
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