BUTEBO, April 23, 2024 – Residents of Petete town council in Butebo district are excited following the commissioning of the construction for the the first tarmac road in the district.
The 6.5-kilometre Namuswata-Radio Uganda road is set to change the face of the district upon completion in June this year.
The tarmacking of the road is funded by Keddi Foundation, a non-governmental organisation in partnership with Butebo District Local Government.
Private company, Rexco Limited has been contracted by Keddi Foundation to work on the road expected to cause development in the district that produces crops like rice, yams, and livestock among others.
The district Chairperson of Butebo, James Okurut, said that this is the first tarmac road in the entire district.
“When Steven Keddi, CEO of Keddi Foundation, approached me with the aim of tarmacking any district road, I gave him Namuswata road which has been in a worse state, ”he said.
He said roads in the district are in a very sorry state due to limited road funds.
“The district receives little road funds from the central government and yet we don’t have enough funds to work on such roads,” he said.
For instance, out of Shs1 billion which the government allocated to all districts in the financial year 2022/2023 only Shs 500 million has so far been released which is too little to work on all district roads.
Florence Nabukwasi, the Chief Administrative Officer Butebo district, commended Keddi Foundation for supporting development in the district.
She urged other development partners and well wishers to emulate Keddi Foundation and support the district in any sector to foster further development.
On her part, Butebo Resident District Commissioner, Juliet Najjuma Ssenkoole, warned people in the area where the road is being constructed not to steal road materials or equipment.
She urged them to embrace the project such that Butebo can develop like other districts in Uganda.
“Every development comes with many opportunities which we need to embrace. As chief government monitors, we will monitor what is being done on the ground to ensure quality work for quality assurance,” Najjuma noted.
Oh his part, Keddi said the purpose of tarmacking the road is to ease transport in the area which has been a problem due to impassable roads.
“After road construction, the Foundation is going to install solar street lights on the road to enable people to move or do business at any time,” Keddi said.
He urged other partners to support the district, saying the government alone does not have enough money to do everything in all districts across the country.
The local philanthropist said that people in Butebo, especially farmers, use roads to transport their agricultural products to Mbale City and neighbouring towns such that they boost their household incomes.
Recently, local leaders and residents of Butebo district blamed rampant poverty in the district on the poor road network.
The leaders said locals, who are mostly agriculturalists, have challenges in transporting their produce to the market, especially on Pallisa-Butebo-Nakaloke road, which links the district to Bugisu and Teso sub-regions.
Butebo district was carved out of Greater Pallisa district in 2017, and depends entirely on the roads for business.
Scovia Mugala, a resident, said roads in the rural district become impassable whenever it rains.
Moses Mwima, the Executive Director of Rexco limited, said the road will be completed on time.
Keddi Foundation facilitate the growth and empowerment of economically disadvantaged individuals.
https://thecooperator.news/excitement-as-butebo-receives-modern-ambulance/
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