By Herbert Munguleni
From dust clouds to muddy messes, residents and users of Kasenyi Road endure endless challenges posed by the poor condition of the murram road. Weather changes continue to compound the difficulties of navigating this vital route along the Entebbe Express Highway. Sunday night’s downpour left the road completely impassable.
As one of the busiest roads in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso District, Kasenyi Road wrestles year-round with alternating bouts of dust in dry seasons and mud during rainy periods.
Despite serving as a lifeline for transporting goods from Kasenyi Landing Site, an important inland port on Lake Victoria, little improvement has been made to the road since the port’s establishment in the 1960s.
Users of the road lament its impact on their daily lives. Many agree with the sentiment that “the unreliability of the road affects their businesses.” Mathias Kajubi, a motorcyclist, shared his frustrations: “This mud here really makes us dirty. There are times you’re heading to a meeting, and you end up arriving very dirty.”
Ssalongo Jimmy attributed the wear and tear on his tricycle to the poor state of the road. “The road is bad, murram, but potholes are everywhere. These have damaged our motorcycles, costing us a lot in repairs and leaving little or no money to sustain our homes,” he explained.
Ssalongo further appealed to the government for urgent intervention, “Katabi Local Government has really tried, repairing the road annually, but this is bigger than what a local council can handle. This road leads to the Special Forces Command training grounds, a landing site, Wagagai Hospital, and a flower plant. That’s why I’m appealing to the government to come to our rescue—we are counting losses.”
Joseph Kalanzi, a boda boda rider who depends on the road to fend for his family, highlighted the additional financial burden caused by its state. “We usually try to save money, but with this mud, we’re forced to spend more on fuel because we move slowly, trying to avoid skidding off the road. The mud delays and gets us stuck on the road,” he lamented.
Continuous rainfall has prompted boda boda riders to attach box cuttings as improvised mudguards to protect their clients from splashes. Pedestrians, too, share the pain of navigating the road. “I come here dirty, even though I leave my house very clean,” said Titus Kamoga, a tomato vendor.
Frustrated by the conditions, many residents have resorted to using alternative feeder roads, although these are often less direct, making the route to their destinations longer.
Katabi Town Council Mayor, Ronald Kalema, acknowledged the struggles faced by Kasenyi Road users but reassured residents of the council’s commitment to ongoing repairs. He emphasized that more significant funding is required to upgrade the road.
Kasenyi Road’s persistent issues with mud and dust is a long-standing challenge tied to its murram surface, climate conditions, and growing use over the decades. This key thoroughfare, located in Katabi Town Council in Wakiso District, has served as a vital link to Kasenyi Landing Site a major inland port on Lake Victoria.
Its importance, however, has not translated into substantial upgrades, leaving users to contend with the same problems year after year.
During dry weather, the road becomes heavily coated in dust. The loose murram surface combined with constant use by motorcycles, vehicles, and pedestrians results in clouds of dust being kicked up and covering the surroundings. Dust makes visibility difficult for drivers and riders, creates an unhealthy environment for residents living nearby, and compromises businesses operating along the road.
Local traders often struggle to keep goods clean, and commuters arrive at their destinations covered in dust, a recurring grievance for users. The dusty conditions worsen during periods of heightened traffic, especially when goods are being transported from the landing site.
In contrast, the rainy seasons transform the road into a muddy quagmire. Torrential rains lead to erosion, waterlogging, and slippery conditions that slow down transportation and increase the risk of accidents. The mud damages vehicles and motorcycles, leading to frequent repairs that place significant financial strain on users. Motorcyclists, such as boda boda riders, face challenges navigating through the thick mud, which delays trips and increases fuel consumption.
Over the years, Katabi Town Council has taken steps to alleviate some of the road’s challenges. Annual repairs and maintenance efforts have helped restore the road temporarily, but these fixes often fail to address the root causes of the road’s deterioration.
Community members have appealed to the government for more substantial intervention, arguing that Kasenyi Road’s significance warrants greater investment. After all, this road serves critical facilities such as the Special Forces Command training grounds, Wagagai Hospital, and local industries, making it indispensable for both economic activity and public service delivery.
