Bushenyi, Uganda – The Ishaka-Mbarara highway, a vital transport corridor in Western Uganda, is experiencing a surge in accidents, causing serious concern for motorists and pedestrians. The road’s deteriorating condition, marked by numerous large potholes, is the primary cause.
Drivers from Ishaka and Kabwohe, speaking to this publication, report repeated complaints about the road’s poor state, yet no significant repairs have been made. The escalating accident rate raises serious concerns that the death toll will continue to climb if the issue isn’t addressed urgently.
A recent parliamentary report by Bushenyi District Woman MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha revealed a devastating statistic: more than 80 people have died in accidents on this road since the start of 2025, with hundreds more injured.
Critical accident hotspots are located at Kahaaya near the college, Nyakabirizi town, the outskirts of Bushenyi Town, Kabwohe Town and its outskirts, and the Itendero-Kashaka section.
Furthermore, several individuals were arrested in 2023 and last year for protesting the dangerous potholes, particularly the stretch from Ishaka to Bushenyi.
Despite the grim situation, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) acknowledged the problem in November of last year and initiated maintenance efforts.
“We are currently undertaking maintenance activities along the Ishaka-Mbarara Road,” stated UNRA spokesperson Allan Ssempebwa. “Sections that haven’t been reached will also be addressed.”
The Mbarara-Ishaka road, stretching approximately 61 kilometers (38 miles), connects the towns of Mbarara and Ishaka.
Beginning in Mbarara, Uganda’s largest city in the Western region, it travels west through Kabwohe and Bushenyi to Ishaka.
The road serves as a crucial transportation artery for the sub-region, connecting it to the major urban centers of Mbarara, Masaka, and Kampala.
The road last underwent a major renovation between September 1987 and December 1994, funded by loans from the World Bank.
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