On September 23, the Rubanda District Local Government and the IFDC Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth of Highland farming systems for rural Transformation (BRIGHT) project launched the reopening of the recently rehabilitated Kashaasha-Ihunga Road at Kamuko Primary School playground.
Her Excellency Frederieke Quispel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda, attended the launch, as did Presidential Representative Fred Mugisha, who commended the District Local Government and the BRIGHT project for successfully rehabilitating the 13.4 km road.
“This road is not just a pathway; it is a vital catalyst that will enhance connectivity, promote trade, and foster development in Rubanda District.”
Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba, Local Council V Chairman
With the road now open, impact is already being seen. Agricultural cargo trucks are driving in and out of 13 villages served by the road, connecting over 20,000 residents to vital agricultural input and output markets. More businesses are emerging along the roadside, the previously closed weekly market has been reopened, and healthcare access has improved, notably for expectant mothers and children, who can now reach Ikumba Health Center III safely and without delay.
Benson Agaba, a taxi driver from Nshanjare Village, explains that the road’s rough terrain, sizable potholes, and frequent flooding had made accidents a regular occurrence. What should have been a short one-hour journey from Nshanjare to Rubanda Town had often stretched into more than a day due to frequent breakdowns and numerous vehicles, especially cargo trucks, getting stuck in potholes.
These frequent disruptions hindered access to agricultural markets, shuttered businesses, reduced farmers’ incomes, and stalled development in a region where agriculture is the backbone of the local economy. However, the situation has improved following the rehabilitation of the Kashasha-Ihunga Road. Now free from potholes and floods, transportation is safer and faster, improving access to markets and essential services for the people of Rubanda District.
“This road is not just a pathway; it is a vital catalyst that will enhance connectivity, promote trade, and foster development in Rubanda District,” noted Local Council V Chairman Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba.
Echoing this sentiment, Samuel Ahabwe, Chief Administrative Officer of Rubanda District Local Government, remarked that the rehabilitated road is already transforming infrastructure and agricultural landscapes, improving farmers’ livelihoods and driving the district’s overall development.
Beyond improvement in infrastructure and agricultural landscapes, Mugisha indicated that the road is contributing to Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan, which seeks to achieve higher household incomes, full monetization of the economy, and employment for sustainable socioeconomic transformation.
Ambassador Quispel urged farming communities to make the most of the newly rehabilitated road, highlighting its potential to transform local agriculture and contribute to the district’s development. She also encouraged farmers to join farmer organizations, build stronger networks with private sector partners, and tap into development and government projects that support sustainable agriculture.
These efforts, she emphasized, are essential for increasing productivity, incomes, and development of farming households and communities in the district.
With the road now open, Rubanda District is positioned for lasting growth, improved livelihoods, and a brighter future for its residents and beyond.
The Building Resilience and Inclusive Growth for Highland Farming Systems for Rural Transformation (BRIGHT) project, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, seeks to build the resilience capacity of farm households and farming systems in Uganda to increase income and food and nutrition security of all farmers and transform households from subsistence to more market-oriented in Kigezi, Mount Elgon, and Rwenzori regions. The project is being implemented by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) 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.
