By Mike Rwothomio 

Construction of the 22-meter span River Ora Bridge in Atyak Sub-county, Zombo District, is progressing steadily, with contractor Azu Properties Ltd now undertaking reinforcement works for the abutment foundations and middle pier.

This milestone follows the successful completion of major road works, river diversion, and cofferdam construction.

According to a press release issued by Alex Pithua , the Communications Officer of Zombo District Local Government, the contractor commenced the project in May 2025.

 He added that the timeline for the work , Originally scheduled for an 8-month duration, has been revised to 13 months, with "expected completion by the end of June 2026".

The bridge forms a critical component of a broader infrastructure initiative under the National Oilseeds Project (NOSP), implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in partnership with Zombo District Local Government.

Funded at UGX 2.4 billion, the project also includes rehabilitation and improvement of approximately 13.9 km of community access road, starting from Yamu Trading Centre through Ugudu-Angol to the River Ora Bridge, and extending to link Luku Trading Centre, Lazebu, and Anyakua providing a vital connection to the tarmacked national road in Bondo, Arua District.

The district is optimistic that, this enhanced connectivity is expected to significantly benefit smallholder farmers in Atyak Sub-county, Warr Sub-county, and Warr Town Council by improving access to Arua City, a major market hub for agricultural products, including oilseeds, and essential services.

The National Oilseeds Project (NOSP), spanning 2021–2028 , is a $144.55 million initiative financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the Government of Uganda.

NOSP focuses on promoting sustainable development and commercialization of key oilseed value chains, soybean, sunflower, sesame, and groundnuts across six hubs in 81 districts, including the West Nile hub encompassing Zombo District. 

The project targets inclusive rural transformation by supporting approximately 120,000 smallholder households through value chain enhancements, cluster-based approaches, and infrastructure investments such as community access roads and bridges to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market linkages.

Denis Dongwa, the district councillor of Atyak Sub-County said " For years, farmers in the targeted areas have faced challenges in transporting produce to Arua markets due to poor road and crossing infrastructure", viewing the bridge and road as a long-awaited solution to enhance economic opportunities.

Zombo District authorities urge the community to support the project by exercising patience during construction, avoiding entry into the active work site for safety reasons, and embracing the infrastructure as a shared asset for rural development and oilseeds sector growth.

District officials during the site inspection.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub