Summary:
Residents accuse the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government of failing to fulfill its 2016-2021 manifesto pledge to tarmac the road.
KISORO: Police in Kisoro District on Friday arrested four people following protests in Gakoro Village, Gasiza Parish, Nyakabande Sub-county, over the poor state of the Nyakabande-Mutolere road.
The arrested individuals include Godfrey Maniraguha Rukara, the LCV Councilor for Nyakabande Sub-county, Boniface Ntawutavugwa, the LC II Chairperson for Gasiza Parish, Africano Manishimwe, a teacher at Gakyekye Primary School and Naris Kwitonda.
The 5-kilometer road, which connects Kyapa Trading Center to St. Francis Mutolere Hospital, has become nearly impassable due to mud, deep gullies, and prolonged neglect. Residents accuse the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government of failing to fulfill its 2016-2021 manifesto pledge to tarmac the road. Frustrated by inaction, they resorted to drastic measures, digging gullies and planting banana suckers in the middle of the road as a form of protest.
CUE IN RESIDENTS……ON THE ROAD……..RR//
LCV Chairperson Abel Bizimana rushed to the scene, but residents refused to listen to him, forcing him to seek intervention from the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC). While Bizimana condemned the police for arresting the demonstrators, he called for a lasting solution to the road’s poor condition.
CUE IN BIZIMANA…..ON CONCERN …….RR//
Kisoro District Police Commander (DPC) Ben Niwamanya Kasumbusha confirmed that the suspects were released on police bond as investigations continue.
CUE IN DPC……ON ARREST ENG………ENG//
