MP Auma launches construction of Shs 800mln oil seed roads
LIRA, January 5, 2025 — Lira District Local Government has officially launched the construction of roads under the National Oil Seed Project [NOSP] aimed at improving access to markets, boosting oil seed production, and supporting local businesses.
The project, worth Shs 800 million and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD], was launched on Friday by the district’s Woman Member of Parliament, Linda Agnes Auma, in Ogur Subcounty, located 15 kilometres north of Lira City.
JB Construction Company Ltd, a Lira-based firm, has been awarded the contract for the construction works, which will cover a total of 13.35 kilometres (Apoka-Alwala-Amara-Angolocom) as part of the first phase of the project.
District Vice Chairperson Bonny Omara stated on Saturday that the road, which also links Omoro District to the area, had been identified for upgrading under NOSP in this phase, with another road in Agali Subcounty also set to receive improvements under the same arrangement.
He explained that the road had been severely damaged by heavy trucks passing through to collect soybeans and sunflower grains, as these are the primary crops grown in the area.
“We are pleased because this project will improve the road’s condition, providing local communities with better access to markets for their produce, as well as to health facilities such as Ogur Health Centre,” Omara added.
He further noted that the government, through this initiative, seeks to promote the cultivation of oil seeds such as sunflower, soybeans, sesame, and groundnuts. However, in Lira district, the focus will primarily be on sunflowers and soybeans, as they are the most widely grown crops in the region.
Lango has become one of Uganda’s leading producers of oilseeds, thanks to its fertile soil and favourable climate. Sunflowers and soybeans, in particular, have replaced cotton, which collapsed decades ago due to price fluctuations.
Auma commended the government for the initiative, emphasising that it would significantly improve trade and communication in the region. She also expressed her gratitude to the communities of Ogur and Agweng Subcounties for their patience, as the roads had previously impacted local businesses.
Geoffrey Okello, a farmer from Golilwite Village, shared that the roads had developed deep gullies due to heavy rains, rendering them impassable. He noted that this had negatively affected the market for their produce, delayed access to health facilities, and exacerbated the poor road network.
“We are at the border between Otuke and Lira. The road network here has been in poor condition, making it difficult for potential buyers to reach our farms,” he explained.
As a result, Okello stated that many farmers have been forced to sell their produce at farm-gate prices, as they are unable to transport it to more lucrative markets.
Michael Odongo, the LC3 Chairperson of Ogur Subcounty, mentioned that the road had been worked on in 2017, but its condition had deteriorated significantly since then.
He expressed appreciation for the government’s investment in the project, as it would help to restore essential transport networks and improve the transportation of produce to Lira City.
https://thecooperator.news/coffee-farmers-urge-govt-to-engage-eu-over-deforestation-law/
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