MANIBE-YUMBE ROAD CRISIS: CITIZENS DEMAND ACTION AS PROMISES FADE

Residents struggling to move on Manibe-Terego-Yumbe road in Terego district.

By Martin Anguyo
Arua City

Road users along the Manibe–Terego–Yumbe corridor are urging political leaders in the region to unite and advocate for the long-overdue tarmacking of the road.

The route, overwhelmed by deep potholes and frequent flooding caused by persistent heavy rains, has become a hotspot for accidents and travel disruptions.

With President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni expected to visit the region as part of his campaign tour, locals are calling on leaders to seize the opportunity and remind the Head of State about the dire condition of the road. They believe this could be a pivotal moment to secure government intervention and address the growing safety concerns.

Ajuma Fred, a frequent road user, expressed frustration over the lack of unity among leaders in following up on the issue. “This road was promised to be tarmacked nearly 15 years ago, yet nothing has been done. Where are we heading? Are we not Ugandans?” The stretch from Manibe to Abizardi has being submerged in water, relating it to a river during rainy seasons and also the narrowness of the road further worsens the problem, making it difficult for larger vehicles to maneuver safely, often resulting in crashes,” he said.

Ezabo Gerald, a resident near St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, lamented the repeated sub-standard repairs and urged the government to take decisive action. “What we want is they have to come and do modern ways of improving the road like two way lanes, the road is so important and it would be of great importance if government works it,” said Gerald.

Walter Feni, the boda boda chairman of Free Town Boda Boda Stage along the road, added that the route receives significantly less attention compared to others in different regions. “The central government is not looking at us from the side of Manibe to Rhino Camp, let them just come and look at the condition of the road, and is this really the standard of a good road? Walter questioned.

Efforts to reach some members of parliament in the region proved futile at the time of filing this story, as calls went unanswered.

However, Richard Twodong, the National Resistance Movement’s general secretary, called for calm, assuring the public that plans to work on the road are underway. “The road from Manibe to Yumbe, we are working on that, so when you rush progress, you will not develop. The problem is we human beings, we want our lives to change like the country and it cannot,” said Richard.

In February 2021, the Government of Japan, through its development agency JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), extended a grant of US$36.58 million (approximately UGX 135 billion) to the Government of Uganda for the improvement of the Manibe–Yumbe road.

According to residents however, no tangible progress has been made since the announcement.