BY ALEX PITHUA

Frustration engulfed Zombo district after the ministry of Finance laid to the parliament a proposal to borrow only USD 20million to tarmac 16kms Nebbi-Jukia-Goli road in West Nile region.

On Tuesday, 16th September 2025 the state Minister for Finance, Henry Musaiza tabled a loan request to borrow USD 20 million for upgrading of 16kms Nebbi-Goli road sparking uproar from the members of parliament from greater Nebbi and those watching on television from home.

Immediately social media users especially WhatsApp groups were washed with bitterness as well as locals shared their concerns over local radio; as a number native of Zombo district says this was targeted to deprive them from national development.

The, Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Padea-Zombo-Zeu-Warr-Vurra-Lia-Odramachakol is estimated to approximately 122kms and commercially viable for international trade for East Africa countries comprising, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.

This road becomes an impediment during rainy seasons; several people lost lives and income because it became impassable when it rained.

For decades there has been agitation to tarmac this road to also spur local economic development to this agrarian community and president Museveni made several public pledges to work on the road but this hasn't been fruitful.

The three members of Parliament from greater Nebbi, including commissioner Esther Afoyocan, Gabriel Ukumu and Utimgui Isaak Ismael of Padyere county went on head on brawls during the parliamentary session, a clear antagonism other than tackling unified agenda for greater Nebbi.

Interviewing MP for Ora county in Zombo district who didn’t attend the session, on telephone he urged the parliament to consider borrowing loan at once, for tarmacking the entire stretch from Nebbi-Goli-Padea-Zombo-Warr-Vurra-Lia-Udramacakol respectively.

“Members of parliament will discuss this and also at committee level and the committee of works and transport have to come on ground for oversight and meet local stakeholders”. Songa

However, in a recent interview with the former state minister Eng. Simon Gui D’Ujanga said in separate periods of past financial years, budgets which were approved by parliament for this road works have been altered for other priorities by the ministry of finance.

This road feasibility study has been conducted half a decade ago and the final architectural engineering design has been completed and it's widely known by the locals that there's a lack of interest by the government to work on this road.

This anger has been exacerbated by the recent move by the ministry of finance to seek parliament approval to borrow a loan to tarmac only 16kms leaving the junk parts of the road not tarmacked.

In October 2023 security officials including politicians blocked a widely organized protest by a section of youth led by Sam Rwothomio over failure to tarmac this road.

In a struggle in October 2023, The King of Alur Kingdom Phillip Rauni Olarker III has reminded the government to tarmac the Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Zombo-Zeu-Warr-Vurra road.

The King made the remarks during his 13th coronation anniversary at Alengo playground in Parombo town council Nebbi district.

During the 2010/2011 and 2015/2016 general election campaigns, President Yoweri Museveni pledged to tarmac the road.

Speaking to the former State Minister for Northern Uganda Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, who represented the President, Phillip Rauni Olarker III noted that tarmacking of the road will bring about development and economic benefits for the people and the districts.

The Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Warr-Vurra road is the major business route between West Nile Sub and the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo –DRC.

According to Olarker III, the road stretch has been a death trap for a long time, especially during the rainy season.

“Our pledges and promises should be fulfilled; our main roads need to be tarmacked, we don’t have many roads but the ones we have are very important to the livelihoods of the people of greater Nebbi. ”Rauni III explained.

But Richard Todwong, the NRM Secretary General who attended the King’s function urged the people of Alur to be patient as the government mobilizes resources to work on the roads in the country.

“Feasibility studies and the architectural design of the 119kms Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Zombo-Zeu-Warr-Vurra road have been completed and the government is mobilizing the funds,” Todwong explained.

Alex Pithua is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot informations