It’s been eight days now, since all roadblocks across the country have been disbanded, including Kanaba Checkpoint, following a recent Presidential directive.
The infamous checkpoint, at the top of the hill, gained notoriety over the years, for being one of the only checkpoints in the country, where passengers had to disembark from the vehicles.
Regardless of the time, day or night or whether it was raining, Passengers had to step out into the cold, form a line and present their National Identity cards.
Yellow Metallic Spike strips across the road and Military Personnel guaranteed that all vehicles halted to a stop.
Claims of intimidation and extortion from Military personnel on travelers, especially non- Ugandans without the proper documentation have been made, however this has never been accurately verified.
The checkpoint, as odd as it was, wasn’t all that bad.
For a weary traveler, who had been sitting for close to eight hours in a stuffy moving box, it offered a temporary respite, a chance for a short call and a moment to take in some clean fresh air.
At the check point, you could not help but smile and sigh a breath of relief upon glancing at Kisoro town downhill at a distance.
The experience of seeing the glowing lights of a sleeping town at night from Kanaba Checkpoint is one that we shall always remember.
A group of Entrepreneurial Batwa (indigenous Pygmies) found a way to make money at the check point by selling roasted maize.
If you were lucky enough, you could even buy some of the sweetest Irish potatoes, you will ever eat.
Rumor has it, the food items sold at the Kanaba checkpoint are grown in the protected area of Echuya forest, but who really knows?
Days after effecting the Presidential directive, regular commuters along Kabale – Kisoro highway still find themselves panicking about meeting Security at Kanaba Checkpoint.
In some sort of unbelief, some passengers in small taxis, buses and even those in private cars can be seen fervently searching for their National I. Ds or face mask as they approach the checkpoint.
Mugisha, a resident of Muganza says he often has to travel to Kabale for business.
Each time, he traveled and got to the Kanaba Check point, he would be forced to buy a new face mask.
His most recent trip, saw him panic as he approached the checkpoint, only to be calmed down by the driver, saying it was no longer necessary to stop.
“It’s surreal, I cannot believe that the check point is gone. We prayed for this move for so long and now that’s it’s here, I hardly believe it, Mugisha says.
The mixed emotions expressed by Mugisha are shared among many, in Kisoro district, particularly those in the health department.
A recent district task force meeting saw health experts warning that removal of the roadblock at Kanaba could increase the chances of deadly diseases reaching an innocent population.
The Kisoro District Disease Surveillance Focal Person, Nick Muneza says, the efforts to prevent and control the Ebola pandemic in Kisoro may not last long after the removal of the Kanaba roadblock.
According to Muneza, the roadblock at Kanaba has been helping in controlling people’s movements to and fro the district.
He advised the Kisoro district Ebola Taskforce Committee to write to the central Government seeking exclusive rights to maintain Kanaba Check point if the people of Kisoro are to remain safe.
Similar sentiments were shared by the Kisoro District Internal Security officer (DISO), Asiimwe Emmanuel who said that as the year comes to an end, more people are expected to travel back home for the festivities.
According to Asiimwe, due to the nature of the porous borders shared by Uganda and her neighbors of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, disease detection as well as other human threats will be more difficult to manage.
Asiimwe recommended at least one Checkpoint at Heisesero in Rubanda district.
Museveni’s Stand on Roadblocks
President Museveni has been against erecting of roadblocks since he took overpower in 1986.
He often cited several incidents during their guerrilla war in the 1980s, where he was able to traffic guns through heavily manned roadblocks.
In 2014, Mr. Museveni witnessed the checkpoint scenario at Mabira Forest when he found traffic jam of cargo carrying trucks.
He talked to truck drivers, who told him that police officers extorted money from them.
Roadblocks were again re-established in 2020 during the enforcement of Covid-19 regulations and many had not been removed.
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