Deadly Wobulenzi Pothole Finally Repaired After Months of Public Outcry

After months of complaints from residents, motorists and local leaders, the Ministry of Works and Transport has begun repairing a notorious pothole along the Kampala–Gulu Highway that has been blamed for a series of fatal road crashes. The large pothole, located near Hotel Networth in Wobulenzi Town Council between Wobulenzi and Luwero town councils, developed earlier this year and had become a major danger to motorists using one of Uganda’s busiest highways.

Drivers said many motorists swerved suddenly to avoid the damaged section, leading to head-on collisions and vehicles veering into roadside trenches. Concerned residents, led by Luwero District LC5 Chairperson Erastus Kibirango, petitioned the Ministry of Works and Transport’s Luwero Station, calling for urgent repairs. For months, however, the damaged section remained unattended. Instead, the ministry installed warning signs advising motorists to slow down and watch out for the rough surface.

On Wednesday, the ministry announced that its Force Account team at Luwero Station had finally begun spot improvement works on the affected section. “Our Force Account (FA) team at Luwero Station is undertaking spot improvement works along the Wobulenzi–Luwero section of the Kampala–Gulu Highway,” the ministry said in a statement posted on X. The ministry said engineers are repairing distressed sections of the pavement to restore the road surface, improve safety, extend the lifespan of the highway and minimise disruptions to traffic.

It also urged motorists to drive cautiously and follow traffic guidance while the works are ongoing. The repairs have been welcomed by motorists and local leaders, who say they could save lives on the busy highway. Dan Kyobe, a leader at the Luwero Town Taxi Association, described the pothole as a death trap, particularly for drivers unfamiliar with the road.

“The Kampala–Gulu Highway is narrow, and as drivers attempted to avoid the pothole, many ended up colliding with each other or veering into the trenches,” Kyobe said. Wobulenzi Town Council LC III Chairperson Moses Ssebalamu said at least eight fatal crashes had been recorded at the site in recent months. While welcoming the repairs, he urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to carry out permanent rehabilitation instead of temporary patchwork.

“This section has been repaired before, but the road deteriorated again just a few months later, disrupting traffic. We appeal to the Ministry of Works and Transport to carry out comprehensive rehabilitation works to provide a lasting solution for all road users,” Ssebalamu said. The Kampala–Gulu Highway remains one of Uganda’s most dangerous roads, with crashes reported almost every week.

Police attribute many of the accidents to the highway’s narrow carriageway, potholes, speeding, reckless driving and mechanically defective vehicles. According to the Luwero District Health Report for the 2024/2025 financial year, 475 people were admitted to health facilities after motorcycle crashes, with 21 dying from their injuries. The report also shows that 13 of the 181 people admitted following other road traffic crashes later died.