Residents, Traders Fume as Kampala-Jinja Highway Section Turns into Death Trap

Mukono, Uganda – What was meant to be a government-upgraded road has instead become a flooded, pothole-ridden nightmare for residents, traders, and motorists along the Sebwato Road stretch of the Kampala-Jinja Highway in Mukono District.  

 A Road Abandoned Midway, Now a 4-Foot Deep Swamp  
The government had launched works to widen and tarmac the road, but the project stalled, leaving behind unfinished drainage systems. Now, a 4-foot-deep waterlogged section has formed, worsening with every rainfall.  

Motorists struggle to navigate the flooded stretch, with boda boda riders reporting daily accidents.  
Traders near the road say their businesses are collapsing as customers avoid the area.  
Pedestrians risk drowning or slipping into the murky water, especially at night.  

Ronald Kawooya, a local resident, lamented:  
"This road has become a battlefield. Everyone fights for the tiny dry patches left. Cars get stuck, bikes slide, and people fall. The government must act now!"  

Nearby shop owners, like those in the two commercial buildings closest to the flooded zone, say they can no longer display goods outside because parked vehicles avoid the area, fearing they’ll sink.  

 Government Responds – But Will It Be Fixed Soon?  
Allan Ssempwa, the Ministry of Works and Transport spokesperson, acknowledged the crisis, stating:  
"We are aware and working on it. Our teams are currently finishing work in Kalagi, and this section is next. We urge patience."  

However, locals remain sceptical, having heard similar promises before.