The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has forcefully closed down the Kabale-Kisoro road at Hamurwa town council to pave way for repairs on the road that was devastated by mudslides on Thursday.

A section of the Kabale-Kisoro road collapsed following continued rains that have hit Kigezi sub-region lately. The incident saw traffic   yesterday paralysed for over 3 hours. UNRA later in the evening released a statement advising motorists to use the Kabale-Katuna-Rubaya-Muko road (88km) to access Kisoro.

Another route that the travellers were advised to consider is the Kabale-Lake Bunyonyi-Kacwekano-Kagarama-Heisesero route (20Km) on their way to Kisoro.

However, since this directive was made, motorists continued to use the damaged route which put them at risk as the road continued sinking and collapsing. Our reporter who was at the affected site on Friday saw heavy vehicles including trucks, buses and Lorries using the route against UNRA’S advice.

The traffic police that were deployed at the scene to enforce safer movement did not stop the vehicles from using the damaged road.

Later, a team from UNRA led by the Kabale station manager, Allison Eng. Allison Abenawe arrived at the scene with machinery for road works. They first blamed the traffic police for failing to implement the directive to halt traffic from the affected section of the road before forcefully closing it.

Abenawe said that they were disappointed to find vehicles moving yet they had directed them to use alternative routes. She said that they have decided to forcefully close the road for works to start and these will last for about 3 weeks.

However, residents called for faster construction works on the road to allow their businesses to continue functioning normally.

According to Wyclef Rushaju, a tour operator at Gorillas and Beyond Safaris and proprietor of Bweza Gorilla lodge said that the alternative routes suggested might not be favourable for tourism business in the area .

Dr. Joseph Tindyebwa, a resident notewd that reconstruction of the road is necessary and it should be worked on properly to restore the hope of residents.

Evelyne Ninsiima Kikafunda, the founder of Green Environment Promotion, a local conservationist organization in the region attributes the disasters experienced lately to the improper soil and water management practices.

         Kigezi is among regions across the country that is receiving heavy rains.  The heavy rains have caused the death of about 18 people in the districts of Rukiga,Rubanda and Kisoro between the night of Tuesday- Wednesday this week.