OPINION
Mbarara City, once a beacon of promise in Western Uganda, now feels like a forgotten chapter in the country’s development story. The recent transition of electricity distribution from UMEME to UEDCL was meant to usher in a new era of efficiency and affordability. Instead, it has plunged residents into darkness both literally and metaphorically.
Power outages are no longer an inconvenience; they are a way of life. And just when people thought it couldn’t get worse, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) joined the chorus of dysfunction. For nearly two months, entire neighborhoods have gone without a single drop of water. In a city, this is not just a failure it’s a crisis. People pay a lot of their hard earned money for new connections and later resort to fetching dirty water from the swamps.
Infrastructure in Decay
Take a drive or rather, a calculated risk down Katete Road. The bridge, a vital link for thousands, has been in disrepair for over a year. Residents cried out, pleaded, and waited. Now, using that road is a mental exercise in courage and desperation. The city center, once bustling with commerce and pride, is now a portrait of neglect. Overflowing waste bins line the streets, sending a clear message: no one is listening.
Dust and Despair
The dust is relentless. It coats everything homes, lungs, and hope. It is not just a nuisance; it’s a symbol of stagnation. A city that cannot manage its roads and sanitation is a city that has lost its way.
Insecurity and Fear
As basic services crumble, so does public safety. Reports of theft and insecurity are rising. When people feel abandoned by their leaders, desperation breeds crime. The absence of visible policing and community support is turning once-safe neighborhoods into zones of fear.
A Call to Action
Mbarara City deserves better. Its people deserve better. This is not just about electricity or water it’s about dignity. It’s about the right to live in a city that works. Local leaders must rise above bureaucracy and political posturing. The central government must recognize that Mbarara is not a footnote it is a vital part of Uganda’s future.
If this is not abandonment, then what is it? The cries of Mbarara’s residents are not noise they are a plea. And it’s time someone listened.
The writer is a concerned resident in Mbarara
