Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has told Isingiro residents that the Government will upgrade the 109km Isingiro-Ntantamuki-Rakai road.

Nabbanja, who was in Isingiro district on Saturday to intervene in the conflicts between district leaders and refugee management in the settlements of Nakivaale and Oruchinga, said tarmacking the road is one of the issues mentioned in the National Development Plan III.

“We are aware of this road and it was in the plan, but when COVID-19 hit, we suffered budget cuts that affected the whole business. But I know after COVID-19, we shall be in a normal situation and the road will be high on our agenda for tarmacking,” she said. 

“I have found reports in my office and have also talked to the leaders in Isingiro about this road. This is a strategic road that will accelerate business for the people of this area, especially for easy access to market their produce and merchandise,” she said.

She was responding to the requests of the Isingiro district chairperson, Alone Tuhairwe Turahi, for the funding of the road.

Turahi said the poor state of the roads in the district has greatly affected the socio-economic development of Isingiro that, he said, entirely depends on commercial farming.

He also requested for a district hospital, saying one of the basic needs of any growing population is access to good quality health care.

Other needs included an industrial park, improvement on the extension of electricity and water in the district, noting that the coverage for the two amenities is still low.

Nabbanja said: “We have a good programme to improve your livelihood. We still have 39% of Ugandans who are still working for only stomachs because they are not in a money economy and this could be one of the reasons people are not developed,” she said.

Nabbanja added that parishes will be given money starting this financial year as a revolving fund and that they will be monitored by the LC2 chairpersons and parish chiefs, to ensure that the welfare of people improves.

The special interest groups, such as youth, persons living with disabilities and women, will be given the first priority to access the parish development model funds. 

The parish model includes seven pillars — infrastructure and economic services, production, financial inclusion and social services, community data information system, governance and administration and mindset change.