Gulu-Juba road frustrates traders
Sep 03, 2008
GULLIES and potholes best describe the Greater-North Gulu-Juba Road which links Uganda with Sudan. During the rainy season, traders who use this road suffer. The trucks get stuck due to the impassable road. The ministry of works says reconstruction of the road starts in December.
By Chris Ocowun
GULLIES and potholes best describe the Greater-North Gulu-Juba Road which links Uganda with Sudan. During the rainy season, traders who use this road suffer. The trucks get stuck due to the impassable road. The ministry of works says reconstruction of the road starts in December.
Last year a woman who was taking produce and other fresh foods to Juba in Southern Sudan, hanged herself due to frustration.
According to eyewitnesses, the woman who hailed from Mbale, had got a loan to buy eggs for export to Juba. But when the truck in which she was travelling got stuck at Palukere, Amuru district, the eggs rotted and they were thrown away.
Palukere and Pawel have become a black-spot. Recently, close to 300 trucks carrying goods, including perishables, got stuck in the areas for a week, because of the deteriorating condition of the road due to the heavy down-pour.
According to Daka Abudallah, a trader, people have lost goods worth sh1b. Other trucks that resorted to using the Gulu-Palaro-Atyak road to Juba also got stuck at Pata-Lira and Okidi.
The trucks have been parked near Wii-Amyana stream in Lagwe Dolla, Atyak sub-county, stretching about 7km. More than 200 trucks heading to Juba and about 100 coming from Juba are stuck. As one approaches the areas, a smell of rotten food lingers in the air.
He says food is expensive. “A cup of tea costs sh1,000 while a plate of beans and posho costs sh3,000.â€
Isaac Ajeko, a truck driver, says he spends about sh1m on repairing his truck everytime he makes a trip to Sudan. There is poor sanitation and lack of latrines. People have resorted to easing themselves in the bushes. It is feared that there may be an outbreak of diseases like cholera and Hepatitis E.
Traders complain
“I supply hotels in Juba with fresh foods. I have made losses of about sh10m,†a trader says. Each truck driver has contributed a litre of fuel and sh10,000 for a caterpillar to clear the road.
The traders have petitioned the works minister, Eng. John Nasasira, to visit the area and assess the state of the road. They claim the engineers in the areas are unqualified. Some traders have resorted to using bicycles to transport perishable goods to Sudan.
Dan Alinange, the communications manager of Uganda National Roads Authority, says starting in December, the Gulu-Atiak-Nimule road will be worked on. He says a contractor has already been identified.
“The Government has secured money from the World Bank to do a feasibility study and detailed design of this road by the end of this month.
Upgrading of the road with bitumen will start in March 2010. The cost of construction is estimated at $75m (about sh124b).â€
Alinange says in the meantime, the ministry will carry out emergency maintenance works.
An immigration officer in the internal affairs ministry, Daniel Ambaku, says due to the bad state of the Gulu-Juba road, traffic has reduced. The road is mainly used by traders and Sudanese refugees returning to their country.
Ambaku says he discussed the state of the road with Nasasira and he promised to take up the matter.
GULLIES and potholes best describe the Greater-North Gulu-Juba Road which links Uganda with Sudan. During the rainy season, traders who use this road suffer. The trucks get stuck due to the impassable road. The ministry of works says reconstruction of the road starts in December.
Last year a woman who was taking produce and other fresh foods to Juba in Southern Sudan, hanged herself due to frustration.
According to eyewitnesses, the woman who hailed from Mbale, had got a loan to buy eggs for export to Juba. But when the truck in which she was travelling got stuck at Palukere, Amuru district, the eggs rotted and they were thrown away.
Palukere and Pawel have become a black-spot. Recently, close to 300 trucks carrying goods, including perishables, got stuck in the areas for a week, because of the deteriorating condition of the road due to the heavy down-pour.
According to Daka Abudallah, a trader, people have lost goods worth sh1b. Other trucks that resorted to using the Gulu-Palaro-Atyak road to Juba also got stuck at Pata-Lira and Okidi.
The trucks have been parked near Wii-Amyana stream in Lagwe Dolla, Atyak sub-county, stretching about 7km. More than 200 trucks heading to Juba and about 100 coming from Juba are stuck. As one approaches the areas, a smell of rotten food lingers in the air.
He says food is expensive. “A cup of tea costs sh1,000 while a plate of beans and posho costs sh3,000.â€
Isaac Ajeko, a truck driver, says he spends about sh1m on repairing his truck everytime he makes a trip to Sudan. There is poor sanitation and lack of latrines. People have resorted to easing themselves in the bushes. It is feared that there may be an outbreak of diseases like cholera and Hepatitis E.
Traders complain
“I supply hotels in Juba with fresh foods. I have made losses of about sh10m,†a trader says. Each truck driver has contributed a litre of fuel and sh10,000 for a caterpillar to clear the road.
The traders have petitioned the works minister, Eng. John Nasasira, to visit the area and assess the state of the road. They claim the engineers in the areas are unqualified. Some traders have resorted to using bicycles to transport perishable goods to Sudan.
Dan Alinange, the communications manager of Uganda National Roads Authority, says starting in December, the Gulu-Atiak-Nimule road will be worked on. He says a contractor has already been identified.
“The Government has secured money from the World Bank to do a feasibility study and detailed design of this road by the end of this month.
Upgrading of the road with bitumen will start in March 2010. The cost of construction is estimated at $75m (about sh124b).â€
Alinange says in the meantime, the ministry will carry out emergency maintenance works.
An immigration officer in the internal affairs ministry, Daniel Ambaku, says due to the bad state of the Gulu-Juba road, traffic has reduced. The road is mainly used by traders and Sudanese refugees returning to their country.
Ambaku says he discussed the state of the road with Nasasira and he promised to take up the matter.