By KT Reporter
Dozens of East African trucks transporting goods to the Democratic Republic of Congo are stranded in Zombo district due to the poor state of the road leading to the Padea one-stop border point, cutting them off from delivering supplies to the war-ravaged Ituri and Tshopo provinces.
The situation has worsened with the ongoing seasonal torrential rains, leaving sections of the national road in Abanga and Nyapea sub-counties, especially around Ayuda and Nyagak bridge slopes, muddy, sticky, and slippery—causing heavy trucks and motorists to get stuck and impeding movement.
Bolingo Francis, the Athuma Sub-county LC V Councilor, blamed the crisis on government neglect, saying authorities have failed to tarmac the road despite a feasibility study being completed in 2015. Bolingo said the impassable road has affected not only truck drivers but also district staff, local businesses, patients seeking health services, and school children.
Meanwhile, former Okoro County MP, Eng. Simon D’Ujanga, revealed that the Ministry of Finance diverted funds allocated by Parliament to tarmac the 119km Nebbi–Goli–Paidha–Zombo–Zeu–Warr–Vurra road on three separate occasions.
Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Kaya Parish, Paidha Sub-county, D’Ujanga, who served as MP for over 15 years, said he and other leaders confronted the Ministry in the presence of the President, and the officials admitted to diverting the money.
“The road which everybody is talking about—we and other members of parliament of this region will confirm this—three times we budgeted for this road, three times the money was diverted by the Minister of Finance. And when we confronted the Minister of Finance in front of the President, he confirmed the money was diverted,” D’Ujanga told our reporter.
Adong Sarah, an aspirant for Zombo District Woman MP, appealed to the government to urgently tarmac the road to boost agricultural production and trade. “Zombo has been a food basket for the region, but for so long the road has been neglected,” Adong said.
In 2022, during the coronation anniversary of the Alur King at Atyak Seed Secondary School, President Museveni announced that first-class marram would be put on the road. Later, in 2024, at thanksgiving prayers for State Minister of Minerals Phiona Nyamotoro in Nebbi Municipality, Museveni promised to tarmac the road. Earlier this year (2025), while in Yumbe district, the President repeated the pledge but without giving a specific timeframe.
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