The inhabitants of the Tshopo province, more precisely those using the road linking Kisangani to Ubundu, express their deep frustration at the disastrous state of this road. With a length of 125 kilometers, this road has become a real obstacle course, punctuated by multiple impassable quagmires and threatening potholes.
Road users, forced to only use motorbikes to venture on this degraded path, testify to the difficulties encountered on a daily basis. Jonathan Sulubika, accustomed to this route, describes a journey of six to ten hours for a distance which should normally be covered much more quickly.
This alarming observation not only has repercussions on the movement of people, but also impacts the supply of essential goods in the city of Ubundu. Traders are thus hampered in their activities, depriving the population of basic necessities.
Faced with this critical situation, the railway appears as an alternative to connect Kisangani to Ubundu. However, recurring locomotive breakdowns and the deterioration of the rails undermine this transport possibility, aggravating the supply and mobility difficulties of the region’s inhabitants.
The local and national authorities are being challenged by the users of this road as well as by the inhabitants of Ubundu who are urging the rehabilitation of this vital road for the socio-economic development of the region. The rehabilitation of the Kisangani-Ubundu road axis appears to be an absolute priority in order to guarantee the fluidity of commercial exchanges and the well-being of the populations served.
At this time when connectivity and accessibility to infrastructure are crucial issues for the development of the regions, it is imperative to act quickly to restore traffic on this essential road and allow the inhabitants of the Tshopo province to find a more serene and prosperous living environment.