Bunyangabu district leaders seek additional funding for road maintenance

Bunyangabu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Bunyangabu district leaders have asked for additional funding for road maintenance.

Since the financial year 2018/19, the district has been receiving 764 million shillings under the Uganda Road Fund-URF to work on the 641.33 kilometres of road. A portion of the money is allocated to sub-counties and town councils.

The leaders argue that the district is left with 126 Million Shillings to work on the district road.

James Ategeka Mugarama, the LCV chairperson Bunyangabu says the funds allocated are inadequate to create any impact on the roads considering the topography of the district. He says 80 percent of the district roads are in a terrible state.

Mugarama also decries the low local revenue collections calling upon the government to consider increasing budget allocations of the district. He adds that the poor state of the roads has impacted agriculture development.

Hussein Kato, the district speaker says that currently, the district is getting about half of what the district planned in the budget.

Amon Rutenta, the chairperson district works committee wants the Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA to take over some of the roads in the district to ease pressure on the merger district resources.

The State Minister of Local Government Victoria Businge Rusoke, says that the budget cuts are a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that forced the country to divert most of its resources to manage the pandemic.

Rusoke said that despite receiving inadequate funds, the district leaders should ensure that the funds are put to better use.

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