The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 400 Kilometres of roads in Gulu District have remained impassable sixteen years later after the communities returned from the internally displaced people’s camps.
Patrick Kinyera, the Gulu District Secretary for Works and Technical Services says that out of the 980 kilometres, only 500 kilometres of roads have been maintained. He says that most of the roads were opened at the time of the insurgency of the Lord’s Resistance Army to ease coordination of the government forces.
Some of the roads that are yet to be worked on among others include Abako- Agoro of 10 km, Bongo Tyet in Palaro Sub County, Lalworo- Kinene -Bulkur of 127 km in Paicho Sub County and Lagara- Monroc 14 km in Bungatira Sub County.
Others are Paibona- Ayweri of 7km in Awach Sub County, Tee-Ladwong road, Pawel Angany road, Tulaliya -Ayiga road and Omoti road, all in Patiko Sub County.
Kinyera explains that the District is constrained by a lack of funds to maintain the roads yet most of the communities struggle to access markets, schools and health facilities.
However, he says that the District has secured funding of 10 Billion Shillings for upgrading and maintenance of some of the roads in the next financial year.
Margaret Arach, the Chairperson Patiko Sub County, says that three of the schools in the areas are inaccessible due to a lack of community access roads. The schools include Pawel Angany Primary School, Ayiga Primary School and Kijuu Hill Primary School while access to Patiko Health facility from the area is equally blocked due to poor roads.
Francis Okumu, a Boda Boda cyclist from Patiko says bad conditions of the roads in the area have crippled their businesses in transportation.
Christopher Opiyo Ateker, the newly elected Gulu LCV Chairperson noted that the district will prioritize road development in the next five years among other social services.
However, of the 31 Billion Shillings proposed budget for the next financial year in the District, 1.3 billion is allocated for road and technical services.
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