Early this year in January, the minister of Works and Transport, General Edward Katumba Wamala, pledged to hand over a ferry to the people of Bussi Island through the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) which he said would be sailing from Entebbe to Bussi, located in Wakiso District.
However, until now, this has not been fulfilled, which is now a worry to the leaders of the island and the entire community.
According to Charles Mukalazi the Bussi sub-county chairperson, residents are counting losses due to the market that was cut off by the uncertainty in the means of transport from Bussi to the mainland.
“It is very difficult and expensive to either travel or transport our products to Entebbe, Kasanje, Nakawuka, or Mpigi because of poor means of transport,” he said.
The Bussi sub-county boss made a cry on Wednesday, 4th September, during the closure of the football tournament organized by Solargen Ventures (U) Ltd, a company that is providing power to the island.
“Most of the people here deal in agricultural produce, so it’s a challenge to us not accessing markets, especially in Entebbe, Mpigi among other places on the mainland,” he remarked.
In addition, Mukalazi noted that even government workers like teachers and nurses don’t want to work on the island because of poor means of transport which has led to poor service delivery within the area.
The Bussi political head, therefore, requested the government through the Minister of Works and Transport and UNRA to kindly fulfill their pledge for the good of the island.
John Ochieng, the executive director of Solargen Ventures (U) Ltd, noted that the main challenge faced in lighting up Bussi is the transport, whereby it’s a bit hard and expensive for them to transport materials, including the poles that involves hiring a ferry, which also inconveniences the other users of a particular vessel.
“Bussi is an island and as much as 20 minutes away from the mainland, it needs a ferry to facilitate the business community and the tourists who come to see the shoebill. My appeal to the government is to first track to the process of making sure that there is a ferry available for Bussi island,” he said.
Sulaiman Ssenkubuge, the Wakiso district councilor representing the Bussi sub-county, commended the Solar Gen company with their project of Koleeza Bussi, which aims at providing power to the community and also added a voice to the need for the ferry for the island.
The Solargen Ventures (U) limited’s Koleeza Bussi project administrator, Robert Okumbe, highlighted that the major purpose of the project is to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for productive use on Bussi island.
“We choose to sponsor a tournament because sports connect people together regardless of religion, tribe, or political affiliation, and also, we want to change the mindset of people to make sure that they not only see power for lighting in their houses but they see how they can productively use power,” Okumbe added.
The Solargen Ventures tournament was won by Kinywante FC in a 4 – 2 penalty shoot over Tebankiza after a goalless game in normal play.
Kinywante FC, merging first, received a bull, trophy, football, and a set of jerseys, and Tebankiza FC, being second, moved away with a goat, football, and a set of jerseys.
Other teams that managed to reach the semifinals, including Bussi FC and Gulwe FC, were also awarded with the football and a set of jerseys to each.
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