Landslides Damage Kabale – Katuna Road, Travellers Advised to Use Ntungamo – Mirama Hills

Heavy rains that have pounded South western Uganda in recent weeks have caused a section of the Kabale – Katuna road to get badly damaged, leading to traffic disruptions.

The road is reported to have collapsed at a place called Kyonyo village, Kamuganuzu subcounty in Kabale district following heavy rains that resulted into the hilly terrain to give in.

Photos that emerged on social media on Saturday morning show almost half of the road’s width which was at the edge of an escarpment collapsed.The damaged section measures about 30 metres.

The road connects Uganda to neighbouring Rwanda and facilitates transport not only for passenger but also cargo to Rwanda.

Authorities have now advised motorists intending to connect to Rwanda to instead travel through the newly completed Ntungamo – Mirama hills road.

A traffic update tweeted by Police on Saturday read; “Part of the road at Kyonyo along Kabale-Katuna road has been affected by heavy landslides. We have placed warning signs to direct light traffic. Please use the newly completed Ntungamo-Mirama Hills road to connect to Rwanda”.

The tragedy comes days after a similar incident recently on the other side of the border in Rwanda where the same road was cut off by landslides.

UNRA say Friday’s incident was largely a making of the earth shuttering movements attributed to land slides. But the UNRA technical personel have already been deployed to the scene to asses the damage and prepare for emergency works to rectify the problems.

“The Rwandan side of this same road was also badly hit last week. These are landslides, they are earth shuttering movements really so we are saddened as well,” Allan Ssempebwa, the UNRA Media Relations Manager told SoftPower News on Saturday.

“Our teams are trying to prepare for emergency works to restore the road. The Executive Director is also on her way to inspect the damaged road together with the technical team,” Ssempebwa added.