PACD Cocoa Roads taking shape and impacting lives
22 Jul 2025
A mother from Kulungere ward Mary Madao shared the community's struggles. She said as a mother in thier community, they have long endured significant hardships due to the lack of essential infrastructure. Accessing basic services such as healthcare, education, and markets has been a daily struggle. Without a proper road, we were forced to walk long distances to Ivon Junction just to catch a PMV (public motor vehicle). This was especially difficult for pregnant women, young children, and the elderly.
The absence of a nearby school and health centre meant that our children had limited access to education, and medical emergencies often went unattended. The isolation of our community made it hard to transport goods, especially cocoa bags, which are vital to our livelihood. We are deeply grateful for the recent road rehabilitation project. This development has transformed our lives. Vehicles can now reach our village, making it easier to transport produce to market, access healthcare, and conduct other important business. This road has brought hope and opportunity, improving the quality of life for everyone in our community.
Kulungere ward youth chairman Clide Niali also shared that he grew up in this community and witnessed firsthand the many struggles faced by women, children, and families. It was heartbreaking to see how difficult life was, especially due to the lack of proper infrastructure. Without a road, people had to cross flowing rivers just to reach transportation at Ivon Junction. As youths, we often helped carry market produce and cocoa bags for families, sometimes risking our safety to ensure they could earn a living.
Clide said one of the most painful experiences was when a loved one passed away. With no road access, they had no choice but to carry the deceased on our shoulders using handmade stretchers, walking long distances to bring them home from the hospital. These moments were emotionally and physically exhausting, and they highlighted the urgent need for better services. "We are deeply grateful now with the rehabilitating of these feeder road. This development has brought immense relief and dignity to our community. Now, vehicles can reach us, making transportation easier and safer for everyone. It has truly changed our lives".
Benny Kania another farmers said he came to Kulungere over 20 years ago and have seen the community grow and change over time. For many years, we lived without basic infrastructure, but now, with the road finally in place, we feel a renewed sense of hope and possibility. The road has opened opportunities, and we’re beginning to think about what comes next for our development.
Benny said some of them are dreaming of having electricity in the village, which would greatly improve our quality of life and support small businesses. Others, especially farmers, are considering investing in vehicles to transport their produce more efficiently. One of our shared visions is to form a community group that could explore downstream processing—adding value to our agricultural products like cocoa or copra before selling them. This would help us earn more income and create jobs locally. The road is just the beginning. It has sparked ideas and ambitions for a better future, and we are ready to take the next steps together.
The absence of a nearby school and health centre meant that our children had limited access to education, and medical emergencies often went unattended. The isolation of our community made it hard to transport goods, especially cocoa bags, which are vital to our livelihood. We are deeply grateful for the recent road rehabilitation project. This development has transformed our lives. Vehicles can now reach our village, making it easier to transport produce to market, access healthcare, and conduct other important business. This road has brought hope and opportunity, improving the quality of life for everyone in our community.
Kulungere ward youth chairman Clide Niali also shared that he grew up in this community and witnessed firsthand the many struggles faced by women, children, and families. It was heartbreaking to see how difficult life was, especially due to the lack of proper infrastructure. Without a road, people had to cross flowing rivers just to reach transportation at Ivon Junction. As youths, we often helped carry market produce and cocoa bags for families, sometimes risking our safety to ensure they could earn a living.
Clide said one of the most painful experiences was when a loved one passed away. With no road access, they had no choice but to carry the deceased on our shoulders using handmade stretchers, walking long distances to bring them home from the hospital. These moments were emotionally and physically exhausting, and they highlighted the urgent need for better services. "We are deeply grateful now with the rehabilitating of these feeder road. This development has brought immense relief and dignity to our community. Now, vehicles can reach us, making transportation easier and safer for everyone. It has truly changed our lives".
Benny Kania another farmers said he came to Kulungere over 20 years ago and have seen the community grow and change over time. For many years, we lived without basic infrastructure, but now, with the road finally in place, we feel a renewed sense of hope and possibility. The road has opened opportunities, and we’re beginning to think about what comes next for our development.
Benny said some of them are dreaming of having electricity in the village, which would greatly improve our quality of life and support small businesses. Others, especially farmers, are considering investing in vehicles to transport their produce more efficiently. One of our shared visions is to form a community group that could explore downstream processing—adding value to our agricultural products like cocoa or copra before selling them. This would help us earn more income and create jobs locally. The road is just the beginning. It has sparked ideas and ambitions for a better future, and we are ready to take the next steps together.
