Otunnu vows to revive Busoga rail links
Nov 07, 2010
THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) presidential candidate, Dr. Olara Otunnu (left), has promised to revive the rural railway services to boost production and trade.
By Frank Mugabi
THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) presidential candidate, Dr. Olara Otunnu (left), has promised to revive the rural railway services to boost production and trade.
This was after he inspected parts of the dilapidated railway tracks in Kamuli district on Thursday.
He visited Namasagali, Mbulamuti, Kitayungwa, Namisambya and Nawango mini-station, which once made up the Busoga railway circuit.
He was accompanied by a campaign entourage that included the former director general of the external security services, David Pulkol, former Bukholi county MP Patrick Mwondha and UPC national treasurer Peter Walubiri.
Otunnu said Busoga region had a separate track from the one that links Uganda and Kenya. The Busoga network, he said, was constructed to boost production in the area, though the NRM government allowed it to run down.
“It’s appalling to find that some of the tracks have been turned into cassava gardens due to the negligence of President Yoweri Museveni,†Otunnu said, adding that he had plans to rehabilitate the network.
Pulkol added that commuter train services would be reintroduced to reduce road traffic, adding that trains were cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buses or taxis.
Later while addressing a rally at Kamuli taxi park, Otunnu said the former UPC governments were people-centered, and that was why they devoted a lot of resources to social services like schools, hospitals and roads.
He slammed the NRM government for failing to extend the tarmac road that UPC constructed from Jinja to Kamuli town, despite being in power for 25 years.
THE Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) presidential candidate, Dr. Olara Otunnu (left), has promised to revive the rural railway services to boost production and trade.
This was after he inspected parts of the dilapidated railway tracks in Kamuli district on Thursday.
He visited Namasagali, Mbulamuti, Kitayungwa, Namisambya and Nawango mini-station, which once made up the Busoga railway circuit.
He was accompanied by a campaign entourage that included the former director general of the external security services, David Pulkol, former Bukholi county MP Patrick Mwondha and UPC national treasurer Peter Walubiri.
Otunnu said Busoga region had a separate track from the one that links Uganda and Kenya. The Busoga network, he said, was constructed to boost production in the area, though the NRM government allowed it to run down.
“It’s appalling to find that some of the tracks have been turned into cassava gardens due to the negligence of President Yoweri Museveni,†Otunnu said, adding that he had plans to rehabilitate the network.
Pulkol added that commuter train services would be reintroduced to reduce road traffic, adding that trains were cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buses or taxis.
Later while addressing a rally at Kamuli taxi park, Otunnu said the former UPC governments were people-centered, and that was why they devoted a lot of resources to social services like schools, hospitals and roads.
He slammed the NRM government for failing to extend the tarmac road that UPC constructed from Jinja to Kamuli town, despite being in power for 25 years.