Transport paralysed as five trucks plunge into Jinja road potholes

Business and transport have been paralysed in Jinja city’s biggest industrial area after five trucks got stuck at different points along Factory Street in Masese Ward, Southern Division.

The vehicles plunged into potholes that were filled with water following heavy rains on Wednesday. The trucks got stuck today Thursday between 6:00 am and 8:30 am and were carrying processed goods from the factory premises to their markets in Jinja and beyond.

Masese is home to over 100 large-scale and cottage industries, with Factory Road as their major gateway to the markets, therefore, its cut-off creates financial losses to the business operators in the area. An employee of MMI Steel Mills who spoke on condition of anonymity says that one of the trucks got stuck 10 meters away from their main gate, making it impossible for both suppliers and distributors to access the premises.

Another transport officer says that they received raw materials via Ripon Falls pier and their trucks were meant to collect them in eight hours, but due to the hindrance, they have resolved to offload the same on one-tonnage capacity boats, which are ferrying the same to the factory premises to enable production.

Sarah Nyakecho, a cotton supplier in one of the factories says that the industrial area borders Lake Victoria on one side and slums on the left side, making it inaccessible during heavy rains and road blockages like these. Nyakecho says that the government should prioritize working on Factory road, as it doubles as both a big employment hub for several youths in Jinja city and a revenue earner for the economy.

Nasser Ashiraf, Southern Division mayor says that they have lobbied all government offices ranging from the ministry of Works, Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra), and parliament, including President Museveni himself to work on the road in vain. Nasser noted that the business community struggles to transport goods and services due to the big ditches in the road, but nothing has been done to address their plight.

By 3:00 pm, police had not deployed their traffic personnel on sight, forcing factory owners to deploy their security guards to supervise both traffic flow and the evacuation processes. Meanwhile, Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi said their traffic department had not received any report about the same.

Mubi however, advised truckers to use an alternative route along the Jinja-Iganga highway, as a means of accessing parts in the industrial area, which have not been plunged by the trucks.