GOVERNMENT PROMISES FIRST-CLASS MURRAM UPGRADE FOR GULU-MOROTO ROAD

Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Henry Musasizi addresses the congregation during an ordination Mass in Omoro District. (Photo by Proscovia Achomo)

By Proscovia Achomo

Gulu City

The government has pledged to upgrade the deteriorating Gulu-Moroto Road to first-class murram as residents and local leaders in Omoro District intensify calls for urgent action on the long-neglected road.

The commitment was made by Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Henry Musasizi during a priestly and diaconate ordination ceremony at Atede Parish, Omoro District over the weekend.

Residents and local leaders used the gathering to raise concerns over the poor state of the approximately 397.85-kilometre road, which they say has made transportation difficult and affected the movement of people, agricultural produce and other goods.

Charles Rackara, a resident, said the poor condition of the road has remained a major concern despite repeated government promises to improve it.

Rackara recalled that during the funeral of former Speaker of Parliament, the late Jacob Oulanyah, government leaders promised to work on the Gulu-Moroto Road.

He said residents have since waited for the promise to be fulfilled, but the road has remained in poor condition.

“Gulu-Moroto, which was promised for construction during the demise of the former Speaker, the late Jacob Oulanyah, has remained as it was up to now. It has almost become like the story of the hare and the tortoise. Promises are made during campaigns, but still it is not worked on. We request you, Minister, that this road be worked on,” Rackara said.

Omoro District LCV Chairperson Andrew Okot Obibi also appealed to the government to prioritise the road, saying its poor condition continues to undermine economic activity and the movement of people in the district.

Okot urged Musasizi, as a member of Cabinet, to use his influence to push for action on the road. “I know you sit in the Cabinet. Help us push for this Moroto road; it is not in a good state,” Okot said.

He said the challenge should be viewed in the wider context of inadequate road infrastructure in the region.

According to Okot, Agago District has no paved road, while Omoro has only limited sections of low-cost sealed roads around the district headquarters and Opit Town Council.

“If you look at the map of Uganda, there are few districts without tarmac, like Agago District. It doesn’t have any drop of tarmac. Omoro District has some drops of tarmac which we call low-cost seal within the district headquarters and within Opit Town Council,” he said.

Okot said upgrading the Gulu-Moroto Road would improve connectivity between the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions and facilitate the movement of farmers, traders and agricultural produce.

Responding to the concerns, Musasizi said the government has not abandoned the Gulu-Moroto Road, which he said is already included in the National Development Plan IV.

He said the road is programmed for full tarmacking in the 2028/2029 financial year. “This is one of the roads we have in our National Development Plan IV and it is programmed for tarmacking in the financial year 2028/2029,” Musasizi said.

However, the minister acknowledged that residents cannot be expected to continue using the road in its current condition while waiting for the long-term tarmacking project.

He therefore committed the government to improving and maintaining the road to first-class murram standard as an interim measure. “As we wait for tarmacking, I commit on behalf of the government and will call my colleague in the Ministry of Works to make sure, in the meantime, this road is kept as a first-class murram road as we wait for tarmac,” he said.

Musasizi also cited other road projects planned for the region, including the Lira-Puranga Road and the Acholi bur-Pajule-Pader route.

He said the projects are part of broader government plans to improve road connectivity across northern Uganda and link communities and economic centres.

The minister, however, cautioned residents against expecting all the projects to be implemented at once, saying government programmes must go through planning, prioritisation and budgeting processes.

He explained that funding is released in phases because government has many competing priorities and limited resources.

Musasizi appealed to residents of Omoro District to remain patient, assuring them that the government would eventually implement the planned road projects.

In the meantime, he said the first-class murram upgrade would help ease transportation challenges along the Gulu-Moroto corridor before the road is eventually tarmacked.

The Gulu-Moroto Road stretches for approximately 397.85 kilometres from Gulu City through Omoro, Pader, Agago, Abim and Kotido districts before reaching Moroto in the Karamoja sub-region.

The road is an important transport and trade corridor connecting the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions. Communities, farmers and traders along the route rely on it to transport agricultural produce, livestock, people and other goods.

For residents of Omoro and neighboring districts, the immediate test will now be whether the government’s first-class murram commitment translates into actual works on the ground, after years of promises and delays.