By KT Reporter
The delay in completing the Moroto-Lokitanyala Road project has caused significant inconvenience to the residents of Moroto Municipality. The roadworks involve upgrading a 40-kilometer stretch from gravel to bitumen grade, connecting Moroto town to Kenya’s border at Lokitanyala. The government of Uganda is funding the road project at UGX 236 billion, and it is being constructed by China Railway No. 3.
The road was scheduled for completion within 30 months of its inception in 2021. In October 2024, the Uganda National Road Authority announced that the road was nearing completion, with 83 percent of the work done, and the handover was expected in December 2024. However, the works stalled since then, and some parts of the road, especially around town, are closed, with pits dug but rarely worked on for over five months.
As a result, residents, especially pedestrians, motorists, traders, and patients in Moroto Referral Hospital (located along the road), have suffered the inconvenience of dust and are prone to accidents due to the poor state of the road. Julius Okello, a chapatti seller in Labor Line, said that the delayed works have affected his business because of the dust. Okello noted that the dust from the road has affected his sales. He added that sometimes he is forced to abandon the business when the situation worsens, yet the rent is demanding.
Okello noted that the situation is made worse by the heavy marble trucks that often use the road and generate a lot of dust for pedestrians. Isaac Lotukei, the chairperson of the Boda Boda Association in Moroto District, said they have registered several accidents caused by the stretches dug on the roads.
Lotukei said that the roads were graded, and now the current wind has generated a lot of dust, frustrating their movements in town. Lotukei said that the central government should review the terms and conditions of the roadworks. He wondered why the company had taken so long to complete the work. Lotukei also noted that the company should not have destroyed the existing roads in town when they were not sure of completing their work in time.
John Robert Adupa, the LC5 chairperson of Lotisan Sub County, urged the Municipal Council authorities to get a water bowser to sprinkle water on the dusty roads to avoid the dust. Adupa noted that the dust from the road has escalated health issues for the patients in Moroto Referral Hospital and the school-going children. He also blamed motorists for speeding when they knew that the road was in poor condition.
Adupa also observed that the roundabout that was destroyed has confused road users, and motorists have frequently collided in accidents. He also urged the constructors to expedite the work so that people could get back to normal movements and businesses.
Ismail Mohammed, the mayor of Moroto Municipality, said that they are equally disappointed by the delayed completion of the roadworks, which has frustrated the economic activities in town.
Mohammed said that the situation is being made worse by the dry winds and dust that have left many people suffering from coughs and flu. Mohammed also noted that the road has been disorganized and has become a hotspot for accidents since all the existing road signage was removed.
He said that the government should consider intervening in the matter and saving the situation. Mohammed said that they met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, members of Parliament, and the road committee over the delayed works.
Mohammed added that they also have town roads that were supposed to be constructed by the same company, but the government is silent about it. Mohammed said that they had agreed with the company to have a 5-kilometer road constructed in the municipality as a bonus, but the company has not taken an interest in fulfilling their mandate.
He also noted that the construction company has destroyed several roads and created many bypasses in town during their work, which has frustrated movements. He added that they used to maintain their roads using road grants, but now all this is destroyed. Mohammed said that they were also supposed to have a modern roundabout, but little has been done, and they are yet to see what the company will deliver.
Richard Eyaru, the Moroto Municipal Town Clerk, observed that the Uganda Road Authorities had not anticipated changes in their operations. Eyaru attributed the delayed work to the ongoing process of integrating UNRA into the works ministry. He also noted that the constructors had anticipated they could have finished the works by November last year, but weather changes frustrated the pace.
Eyaru recalled that one of their staff was seriously involved in an accident that occurred on the same road due to its poor state. He revealed that in their recent engagement with the Ministry of Works, they requested a water bowser to help them sprinkle water on the affected road.
Eyaru said that they are still waiting for a response from the ministry to allow them to use the UNRA equipment to solve the problem. Eyaru said that the Ministry of Works has made a supplementary request to the Ministry of Finance to fix the roundabout that is currently confusing road users and causing accidents.
He said that the Ministry of Works should also consider paying the constructors so they can return and finish the remaining work-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
