Ben Kumumanya exchanging a signed contract with one of the contractors
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Ministry of Local Government has signed contracts for the rehabilitation of 139 kilometres of district and community access roads across nine districts under the Rural Development for Food Security in Northern Uganda (RUDSEC) Project, paving the way for construction works expected to begin next week.
The project, which will be implemented in Lamwo, Agago, Pader, Dokolo, Lira, Oyam, Serere, Soroti and Kaberamaido districts, is aimed at improving rural connectivity, enhancing access to markets and strengthening agricultural production and local service delivery.
Construction will commence following the official handover of project sites to contractors, marking the beginning of a major infrastructure intervention designed to improve the livelihoods of farming communities across northern and eastern Uganda.
Speaking during the contract signing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, described the road rehabilitation programme as a critical investment in Uganda’s socio-economic transformation, emphasizing that reliable transport infrastructure is essential for agricultural development and economic growth.
“Agri-industrialization is central to Uganda’s journey towards middle-income status. That transformation begins with motorability and accessibility through roads, which facilitate trade, service delivery and other development activities,” Kumumanya said.
He noted that improved road infrastructure would reduce transport costs, improve mobility for communities and create better opportunities for farmers to access markets for their produce, while also enabling easier delivery of health, education and other public services.
The rehabilitation programme will cover nine key road sections across the beneficiary districts. These include the 15-kilometre Agago–Kalongo–Lomoi Road (Section A) and the 14.9-kilometre Agago–Kalongo–Lomoi Road (Section B) in Agago District, the 21.6-kilometre Lamwo–Corner Ogwec–Tenten Road in Lamwo, the 18-kilometre Puranga–Ogonyo–Achola Stream Road in Pader, and the 16.3 kilometres of Agweng–Barlonyo and Akano–Lwala roads in Lira District.
Other roads earmarked for rehabilitation include the 12.7-kilometre Alwimac–Awiri–Asalim Road in Dokolo District, the 12.8-kilometre Ochero–Bugoi Road in Kaberamaido, the 13.5-kilometre Atirir–Orungo Border Road in Soroti District, and the 14.9 kilometres of Serere Upper Shops–Akoboi and Kamod–Otimong–Akobi roads in Serere District.
According to the Ministry, the RUDSEC Project goes beyond upgrading roads. It is intended to strengthen decentralisation, improve public service delivery and stimulate local economic development by connecting rural communities to markets and essential social services.
The improved road network is expected to facilitate the movement of agricultural inputs and produce, enabling smallholder farmers to commercialise agriculture more effectively while improving household incomes and food security.
Kumumanya urged contractors to deliver quality work within the agreed timelines while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and transparency throughout implementation.
He also called on contractors to work closely with district local governments and involve local communities during project implementation by prioritising local employment opportunities.
“The surrounding communities should be the first beneficiaries through local employment,” he said, adding that contractors must also ensure environmental safeguards are fully observed during construction.
The Rural Development for Food Security in Northern Uganda (RUDSEC) Project is jointly funded by the Government of Uganda and the German Government through KfW Development Bank. The initiative seeks to improve rural infrastructure and market access as a means of boosting agricultural incomes and strengthening food security among smallholder farmers.
