By ALEX PITHUA

President Museveni, who is seeking votes from Ugandans after being in power for four decades has again pledged to tarmac 118 kms Nebbi-Zombo-Zeu-Warr-Vura road in two phase manner starting in April 26TH 2026.

Assuring the people of Zombo district while for his campaign rally at Zombo Upper primary school on 11th October 2025, in company of the First Lady Janet Katah Museveni and National Resistance Movement big wigs including Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa Secretary General Richard Todwong, National Vice Chairman Denis Hamson Ubua among others Museveni made this pronouncement after a tough decision.

At first the president was straight to his point as he was making his speech to the crowd saying that the government will tarmac only 16kms section of this road which starts in Nebbi Municipality and ends in Goli One Stop Border point, a traditional connection route to Democratic Republic of Congo.

While other larger stretches should be maintained with first class marram, a statement which did not go well in the ears of residents of Zombo district as president Museveni read could from the crowd, he then sharply announced. ”in April 26th 2026 government will sign a contract to tarmac 118kms Nebbi-Vura road in two phases”. 

The appalling state of this road has been frustrating and hindering movements of goods and services to both nationals and international trade.

The road is economically viable and a border security control link with the volatile North Eastern DR Congo and if not addressed can pose Uganda to insecurity along this border.

There are major five gazzetted official posts and numerous porous points facilitating illegal activities.

For Zombo district, unlike other districts in greater Nebbi of Nebbi and Pakwach, Zombo leaders including cultural and the religious zerod their demand on tarmac road.

Praying for the campaign to start, Rev. Father Walter the Parish priest of Zombo Catholic Church who prayed on behalf of the district asked the president to consider the plight of the suffering of Zombo people orchestrated by the poor state road both during rainy and dry season.

Father Walter pleaded to the president to consider tarmacking this road as an urgent issue of the people of Zombo district.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, State Minister for Finance Henry Musaiza tabled before Parliament a request to secure the loan. This move immediately sparked uproar among legislators from Greater Nebbi and drew outrage from residents who followed the proceedings on television

The frustration and anger equally engulfed Zombo District following a proposal by the Ministry of Finance to borrow only USD 20 million for the upgrading of a mere 16 kilometers of the Nebbi–Jukia–Goli road in the West Nile sub-region

Social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, were flooded with bitter reactions. At the same time, callers on local radio stations in Zombo expressed fears that the government’s decision was a deliberate attempt to deprive their district of meaningful national development.

Former State Minister for Energy Simon D’Ujanga, also a native of the area, noted in a separate interview that over the years, budget allocations approved by Parliament for the same road were repeatedly diverted by the Ministry of Finance to other priorities.

He added that a feasibility study and final engineering design were completed over five years ago, but government interest in actual implementation has remained minimal.

Alur King Phillip Rauni Olarker III used his 13th coronation anniversary celebrations in Parombo Town Council, Nebbi District, to urge the government to fulfill its pledges and tarmac the entire rout.

In response, Todwong appealed for patience, insisting that the government is mobilizing resources to fund the entire 119-kilometer project. He equally maintains this on 11TH October 2025, when asked by our journalist during a sideline interview at Zombo upper primary school.

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