Museveni commissions Atiak-Nimule road works

BY MOSES MULONDO

President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned the construction of the Atiak-Nimule road from Uganda to South Sudan.  

Works and transport minister, Abraham Byandaala told Vision Online that the road will be constructed with support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“Travel between Kampala and Bibia at the border with South Sudan is still a nightmare with unacceptably long journey times. With the upgrading of this road, we hope to solve this problem and this will enhance the trade between Uganda and Southern Sudan,” Byandaala explained.

He said the construction work will be undertaken by the China Railway Wuju (Group) Corporation and supervision will be done by M/S LEA Associates and KOM Consult Ltd to ensure value for money.

“As you are aware, the NRM government has put a lot of emphasis on the development and maintenance of the country’s road network. Since 1986 to date, over 300km of major roads have been constructed or reconstructed. More roads will be constructed in the new few years in line with the party manifesto,” Byandaala explained.

He said other roads government has set out to upgrade in in the Greater North region include; Gulu-Atiak, Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba, Atiak-Addjumani-Moyo-Afogi and Olwiyo-Gulu-Kitgum, Kafu-Karuma-Kamdini-Gulu.

In the 2013/2014 budget which is about to be approved by parliament, the works and transport sector took the lion’s share with over 2.3trillions.