Kanungu Residents Protest Neglect of Bwindi–Kanyantorogo Road

KANUNGU, Uganda — Residents of Buhoma Town Council in Kanungu District have staged a protest over the worsening condition of the Bwindi–Kanyantorogo road, which they say has become nearly impassable and is now endangering lives while crippling local economic activity.

The demonstrators, who gathered early this morning, accused authorities of neglecting a vital tourism corridor that serves the world-renowned Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a key destination for gorilla tracking and one of Uganda’s leading foreign exchange earners.

Protesters reported that the deteriorating road surface has led to frequent accidents, increased transport costs, and delays in movement of tourists, goods, and services. They warned that unless urgent rehabilitation works are undertaken, the region’s tourism potential could suffer significant losses.

“This road is our lifeline. Tourists struggle to reach Bwindi, vehicles are breaking down, and accidents are becoming common,” one resident said during the demonstration.

The protest comes shortly after President Yoweri Museveni, in his State of the Nation Address, highlighted what he described as major improvements in Uganda’s infrastructure network, including roads across different regions. However, residents in Bwindi have challenged that narrative, arguing that conditions on the ground in key tourism zones remain poor and require immediate government intervention.

Community leaders are now calling on the Ministry of Works and Transport to prioritize the Bwindi–Kanyantorogo route, stressing that its rehabilitation is critical to safeguarding tourism revenue and ensuring the safety of both residents and visitors.