The government of Uganda is planning to open a security road from the Teso sub-region through Karamoja, Lango up to Agago District in the Acholi sub-region to ease military operations against cattle rustlers. 

Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport disclosed this on Wednesday, November 22, in Otuke District while commissioning the reconstruction of a 31km district road that stretches from Baralegi Presidential State Lodge in Okwang sub-county, Otuke, to Agweng town council in Lira District. 

Katumba said if the road is opened, it will enable the military to deploy and counter the cattle rustlers from Karamoja that have in the recent past been a big burden to the people in the neighbouring districts of Teso, Lango and Acholi.

Minister Katumba (L) inspecting one of the broken bridges along the Baralegi Presidential State Lodge road. (Photo by Joseph Ekol)

He said the proposed infrastructure stretches from Lekopate in the Teso sub-region through Katakwi, Kapelebyong, Abim to Agago. 

Roadworks in the pipeline

Before commissioning the road works at Okwang Town Council headquarters, the minister toured several roads connecting Lira and Otuke with broken bridges that have cut off roads.  

He also inspected the Kaguta Bridge which connects Otuke, Lira and Alebtong districts, constructed about three years back and named after President Yoweri Museveni. 

Gen. Katumba assured people that a number of works in the Lango sub-region are in the pipeline. 

He said the government is committed to improving road infrastructure in Lango and the only challenge they had was the Covid-19 pandemic that led to delays to kick start the works on the roads in the sub-region that has a very poor road network. 

The newly commissioned road, which is within the hinterland between Okwang and Agweng is very vital to farmers within the area taking produce to the market. 

“People in this area are very productive, they grow a lot of rice, maize and sorghum and if we don’t enable them to evacuate their products, then all their efforts will be lost as they will be cheated since they will not access the markets because of bad roads,” Katumba explained. 

He appealed to the community of the area to embrace the government programs and put the money they are given to good use to enhance their livelihood. 

“I appeal to you to use this facility to develop personally, use it for transporting the farm products to the market and after selling use the money productively to enable you to transform from grass thatch houses to mabaati [iron sheets],” minister Katumba told Otuke residents. 

Otuke MP, Paul Omara thanked Katumba for opening the road which is significant to the development of Otuke. The road also stretches to the upcountry home of the president.

Works and Transport Minister, Gen. Edward katumba Wamala (Left) guided by Otuke MP Paul Omara as he inspected Otuke roads. (Photo by Joseph Ekol)

Omara, who is also the chairman of the Otuke district roads committee, gave testimony that about eight years ago, the presidential motorcade got stuck on the road on its way to the state lodge which was very shameful. 

He said the road will not only help connect to the presidential state lodge but will boost the business in the district. 

He said the roads in Otuke lack access because they are cut off by swamps and many are narrow and non-motorable, and that they are planning to use the sh1b which is given to districts every financial year, to work on about 24 roads which measure about 194km. 

Eng. Bosco Lepi, the regional force on account manager, said the commissioned project will be done in a phased manner whereby the first 16km will be done for five months at a cost of sh500m this financial year, and then the remaining portion will be completed in the next financial year. 

According to him, the rehabilitation works will include, general clearance, heavy grading, excavation of drainage facilities, and full gravelling of the entire road.  

Lepi said as they handle the full reconstruction of the 16km, the remaining part of the road network will be well maintained for use by motorists. 

Cecilia Agang, the woman councillor representing Barjobi town council and Barjobi sub-county in the Otuke District Council, said the rehabilitation of the road will go a long way in boosting revenue for the district. 

Agang appealed to the government to increase the funds given to districts for road maintenance saying what they are currently given is meagre to handle all roads in the district.