Construct our roads - MPs urge President
Political leaders in Busoga have called on President Yoweri Museveni to fulfill his pledge of improving the road network in the region. The leaders, led by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga (Kamuli district, NRM) said that the road from the landing site to Kamuli is in a bad state.
“We appreciate that you responded to our request for a ferry to ease transport, but we are constrained to use it because of the bad road,” said Kadaga.
The Speaker made the call during the thanksgiving ceremony for Buyende District Woman MP, Hon. Veronica Kadogo on 03 March, 2018. The Ceremony, that took place at Buyende Township Primary School, was to commemorate Kadogo’s victory in the 2016 Parliamentary elections.
Kadogo said that besides upgrading the old roads, consideration should be made to construct new roads in Buyende.
“We are pleased to note that Buyende District has greatly transformed and has amenities like water, electricity, and an administration block, but we ask that theBukungu-Kidera road is constructed,” said Kadogo.
The District Chairperson, Robert Ziribasanga said that the delay in construction of roads has led the communities to accuse the leadership of failure to deliver.
“The delivery of equipment for construction brought hope that the road works would start immediately, but that is dwindling now,” said Ziribasanga.
The State Minister for Works and Transport, Monica Ntege Azuba who was tasked by President Museveni to explain why the road works had not yet started said that this would be implemented during the 2018/2019 financial year.
“We now have funds to construct the road from the landing site to Kamuli,” said Azuba.
President Museveni reassured the residents that the Kamuli-Bukungu road will be tarmacked in the 2018/2019 financial year. He further revealed plans to repair some old roads including Kamuli-Tororo, Nakalama-Tirinyi, Namayingo-Busia and Budondo-Luuka.
“We have delayed to work on these roads because we have several competing priorities. I ask that we exercise patience since development is a gradual process and in the end it will benefit all Ugandans,” said Museveni.
On the request from the Speaker of Parliament for recognition of Busoga as a cattle corridor, Museveni said that he will send a team to survey the region to establish if it is indeed a cattle corridor.
“Coolers will be established in every sub county as long as it is found that Busoga is a cattle corridor,” said Museveni.
The President also advised Basoga to invest in fish farming, saying that it is one of the biggest income generating activities. “I have one acre piece of land on which I practice fish farming. I earn shs64 million annually,” said Museveni.
He promised that issue of illegal fish will be addressed to enable the fish farming in Busoga to succeed.
In a related development, Members of Parliament from Eastern Uganda led by the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga raised shs57 million towards the purchase of equipment and inputs for primary farmer’s societies in Budiope East in Buyende district.
The fundraising event championed by Geoffrey Dhamazungu (NRM, Budiope East) took place at Nabitula Primary School and was also attended by President Museveni who pledged shs50 million and a tractor. He also pledged 1,400 iron sheets for Nabitula Primary School and a motorcycle for the Budiope East Local Council I Chairperson. Ushs132 million was raised at the event.
Dhamazungu said the money will benefit 40 primary farmer’s societies in Budiope East through purchase of equipment including tractors, ox-ploughs, maize mills and huller machines.
“This money will also serve as startup capital for the farmers to acquire 15 acres of land to act as the district storage facility,” said Dhamazungu.
