THE second phase of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) was yesterday launched in Kampala with the World Bank promising to tighten transparency and accountability.
According to the World Bank country director, John McIntire, disbursements of funds to districts where corruption is found will be suspended until the culprits are brought to book.
He added that the World Bank intended to set up an office in northern Uganda to monitor the programme.
At least sh3.3b funds of NUSAF had not been accounted for by last September, sh2.5b of which had been given to community initiatives.
Launching NUSAF II, President Yoweri Museveni asked donors to fund projects that can be used by the beneficiaries to generate wealth instead of focusing on social services only.
“My real projects for the north include the $1.3b (about sh2 trillion) Karuma hydro-power dam,” he said. “It will be funded by the Ugandan Government and whoever wants to join us should come in according to our terms.”
The $100m (sh200b) under NUSAF I was meant for empowerment of conflict-affected communities, improvement of service delivery and providing support to the vulnerable.
In NUSAF II, another $100m is aimed at helping households generate income. It is financed by the Government through an investment loan from the World Bank.
The UK is providing a £24m grant to the programme. The programme will cover the 40 affected districts in Acholi, Bukedi, Bunyoro, Elgon, Karamoja, Lango, Teso and West Nile.
Museveni said the other major project that will boost production in the north is the tarmacking of the Gulu-Atyak-Bibia road, with the help of the World Bank, the Arua-Koboko-Oraba road, the Muyembe-Namalu-Nakapiripirit-Moroto road and the road from Masindi Port through Apac to Kitgum.
In addition, he noted, the Government is completing the Soroti-Dokolo-Lira road, despite “propaganda from some people” that it will never be finished.
He said the Government was entirely funding the roads. Development partners, he explained, refused to be involved unless there was a rate of return of 12% which, he said, the vehicles on that route cannot make.
The Government also plans to put in place an electricity power line from Muyembe through Sironko, Namalu and Nakapiripirit to Amudat, Katkekile and Moroto. “We need power for the limestone at Katkekile.”
Powerlines will also be installed from Wopuyo to Katakwi and Iri Iri to Moroto, and from Corner Kilak through Pader and Patongo to Koch Goma.
He announced that the Government will in addition complete the 3.6 megawatt Nyagak hydro-power station after the previous contractor failed to complete it.
The Nyagak station would serve Arua and surrounding areas and supply electricity to Adjumani and Moyo.
According to the President, the Government is in discussions with the government of Southern Sudan to extend the railway line from Gulu to Juba.
“I have instructed the construction brigade of the army to develop a railway building capacity to do some of these projects cheaply because we are tired of the problems and excuses we always get.”
Museveni reiterated that peace in Uganda is now a reality despite “blackmail from Kony apologists” who went begging him in his hideout in Garamba, calling him Ladit (honourable). “That circus went on too long and we decided to hunt him down.”
He praised the governments of Congo, the Central African Republic and Southern Sudan for allowing the UPDF access to his haven. On Karamoja, Museveni said the UPDF would intensify its operations to deal with people who hid their guns and now use them to terrorise those who surrendered theirs to the Government.
