Roads: Leaders demand increased funding
Leaders in the Acholi sub region have asked the central government to increase funds for the roads, saying most roads in the region are impassible, especially during the rainy season.
This comes at a time when most roads in the region are in a very poor state, hindering accessibility to various social services such as hospitals.
In Omoro district, the district manages a total of 303km with 518km under the direct management of the sub-counties. However, hundreds of kilometres of roads in the district are in a very poor state.
Some of the roads in a sorry state and affecting accessibility include Awere –Awaliwanglobo to Abela Health Centre II, Odek to Lakim, Acet-Orapwoyo-Idure to Laminladera among others.
Douglas Okello Peter, the Omoro district LCV Chairperson, while addressing NRM supporters on the last day of the campaign for the Omoro County by-elections at Odek Primary School on Tuesday, said that the district has suffered a financial shortfall of Shs 158 million in the financial year ending June 2022.
Okello said that the meager road funding has hindered rehabilitation processes as well as opening of new roads which would boost agriculture and access to other social services.
According to Okello, the government should increase funds under the Uganda road fund to at least 1 billion shillings per district and Shs 500 million per sub-county so that roads and rehabilitation and accessibility improved.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru district LCV Chairperson told this reporter that with heavy trucks plying the various roads, the condition of roads has worsened. He said that there is need for improved funding in the road sector so that the roads are maintained to avoid being damaged more.
According to Lakony, Amuru district receives not more than Shs 400mln for road works, yet several bridges and culverts are broken, needing replacement. Coupled with the inadequate funding, Lakony notes that the government has on several occasions delayed remitting the funds to the district accounts.
Museveni while speaking to told Omoro district locals said that the government would study the late Oulanyah`s proposal and possibly modify it.
He said that from his movements across the country, most of the districts have road work equipment but lack fuel. Museveni said the government will look into increasing funding for road works since they play a huge role in community development.
“We had agreed to have a standard formula for funding marram roads. I don’t know why the issue of road funding keeps coming up, because you hear each district has equipment but lacks fuel to do their work. We will look into the road sector to see that funding is improved,” Museveni said.
https://thecooperator.news/leaders-demand-for-fast-rehabilitation-of-roads/
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