By Catherine Bekunda
and Milton Olupot

Parliament yesterday deferred the authorisation to borrow $120 (about sh240b) for financing the road sector project after opposition MPs rejected it.

The loan meant to facilitate the upgrading of the Nyakahita-Ibanda-Kamwenge road, was opposed by the MPs, saying the Government was concentrating on building roads in western Uganda at the expense of other regions.

The request to acquire a loan was tabled by the Ministry of Finance and has been under consideration by the committee on national economy.

The committee chairperson, Mukitale Biraahwa, yesterday presented their report, urging MPs to approve the loan.

“The Constitution stipulates balance and equity in development of this country and these principles should apply. West Nile, Karamoja and Teso do not have tarmac roads. It is important that the minister explains the criteria used to select the roads,” Alice Alaso (FDC) said.

She added that there were many loans that the country was currently servicing.
“We have literally mortgaged this country, the future generations are going to be in trouble,” Alaso stated.

Christopher Kibanzanga (FDC) from Kasese said he appreciated the fact that the road is in his region but noted that there was a high concentration of tarmac roads in western Uganda compared to other parts of the country.

“I would be the best person to support this road but that would be selfishness. Look at the Karamoja and Teso regions, there is no tarmac road. You cannot run a country like this. Direct this loan to another region,” he suggested.

Francis Epetait (FDC) called on his fellow MPs to bear in mind the issue of equity in the distribution of national resources. He said the Government had failed to get its priorities right.

“We need $10m to fix the issue of cervical cancer which is killing thousands of women in this country but we cannot get it, yet we can get a loan of $120b for roads,” he said.

Frank Tumwebaze (NRM), in whose constituency the road passes, urged MPs to support the loan, saying farmers in Kamwenge have continuously been cheated because they are cut off from the national market.

“Let us stop politicising the issue and look at the realities on the ground. There is no single tarmac road in my district and yet we have just recovered from the ADF war,” he appealed.