The announcement of a major road rehabilitation project has filled residents of Uganda’s Rubanda District with anticipation, promising to transform transportation and farmer income through improved market access and trade.
The project is implemented by IFDC through its Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland farming systems for rural Transformation (BRIGHT) project and funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) through the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Dutch development policy. The rehabilitation work aims to improve farmers’ access to markets for their agricultural products.
“We could not transport our produce to the markets because vehicles could not reach our area due to the poor state of the road. Even for the motorcycles, they get stuck…or cannot reach [us] leaving us in losses”
John Habimana, Rubanda District Engineer
In October 2024, project officials launched rehabilitation work on the widely used Kashaasha-Ihunga Road, which connects Ikumba Sub-County and Nshanjare Town Council. Many local farmers, residents, and tourists rely on this road for travel to areas such as the Kisoro District. This rehabilitation offers farmers the opportunity to increase agricultural production and income through improved market access and trade.
The project team outlined their plans to continue improving the Kashaasha-Ihunga Road, which include widening the road to eight meters, grading it, and applying marram, an organic material used for surfacing roads. Additionally, a proper drainage system will be installed to prevent further erosion.
These improvements have been needed for some time. For over four years, the 13.4-kilometer road has been in poor condition, causing severe difficulties for locals. Residents shared how vehicles would often become stuck due to deep potholes caused by water erosion during rainy seasons. “We could not transport our produce to the markets because vehicles could not reach our area due to the poor state of the road. Even for the motorcycles, they get stuck…or cannot reach [us] leaving us in losses,” John Habimana, Rubanda District Engineer, said.
Rubanda Resident District Commissioner Eric Ssewandigi commented further that poor road access had hindered efforts to promote government programs such as the Parish Development Model because leaders struggled to reach certain areas.
BRIGHT Project Manager Kiganira Ibrahim noted that during the community awareness-raising meetings, locals expressed their desperation for better roads since the poor infrastructure allowed buyers to exploit them when selling agricultural products.
“IFDC has played its part in facilitating the rehabilitation of the road in partnership with Rubanda District Local Government. However, our appeal to the community and district leadership is the strategy to have this road maintained,” Kiganira remarked.
To reiterate the district’s commitment to maintaining the road and the livelihoods that depend on it, Rubanda District Local Council V Chairman Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba detailed the financial and community support behind the project.
“As Rubanda District Local Government, we assure IFDC that we shall live up to the agreement that we signed. We have already budgeted for UGX 300 million (U.S. $81,627.99) for the road maintenance, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority has also committed to support the community with funding to ensure that the road is well maintained,” Kasyaba declared.
As work on the rehabilitation project continues, BRIGHT and local officials are monitoring it to ensure progress and respond to needs that may arise. For example, a joint monitoring visit between IFDC and district officials in December 2024 revealed that road rehabilitation was continuing successfully despite the heavy rains. To mitigate the effects of these heavy rains, IFDC distributed soil stabilizers to households residing next to the road.
With the rehabilitation of the Kashaasha-Ihunga Road set to be completed in March of this year, improving the livelihoods of farmers and residents in Rubanda District is within reach. By enhancing access to markets and essential services, such as health services, the project is expected to foster economic growth, reduce transportation challenges, and contribute to the overall development of the region.
Continued support from the local government, communities, and stakeholders such as IFDC will be essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the road’s improvements. The collaborative efforts to maintain the road and address future challenges demonstrate a shared commitment to the long-term prosperity of Rubanda’s rural communities.
With funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the BRIGHT project is enhancing the resilience of 100,000 highland farm households in Uganda against economic and climate-related shocks, supporting households through inclusive farm planning and decision-making, introducing climate-smart agriculture techniques and technologies, strengthening local farming systems, conserving natural resources, and developing strategic value chains. BRIGHT is implemented in cooperation with Agriterra, the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), district local governments, and private sector partners.
