New road to boost business in Bukedi

Local leaders are optimistic that the 111lKm Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi and Pallisa-Kamonkoli road currently under construction, will boost businesses in Eastern Uganda once complete.

The strategic location of Budaka along the Iganga – Tirinyi highway makes the district an ideal area for produce buyers and agro processors to access the Bukedi hinterland.
This makes Tirinyi highway through Budaka and Kibuku a vital lifeline for the people of Bukedi and Eastern Uganda.

Bukedi strides on the border of Uganda and Kenya, offering many cross border trade opportunities for the business community.
Manufacturing
With diverse resources in the region such as minerals, crops and livestock, the manufacturing sector has added value to raw materials. Industries such as Tororo Cement and Uganda Clays at Kamonkoli in Budaka have sprung up to offer manufacturing opportunities in the region.

Cost
Construction works for the road estimated at a cost of Shs274b, are currently under Arab Contractors.
Pallisa LC5 chairman, Mr John Micheal Okurut said new businesses are expected to rapidly sprout, easing movement and business in the Eastern region. Some of the businesses they are eying include: lodging facilities, bars, petrol station and business centres.

“The roads will ease movement and investment among the districts. This will act as a link for rapid development,” Mr Okurut, This is a big milestone to the people of Bukedi said.

“The growing population is an opportunity to engage in various activities to generate income,” Mr Okurut further explained.

Funded by African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Uganda, the 111 Km road stretching from Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi and Pallisa-Kamonkoli will take five years to complete.

Residents
The Kibuku LC5 chairman, Mr Charles Kadyama noted that although the construction of Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi and Pallisa-Kamonkoli had been in the National Budget several times, works have eventually commenced.

“This will be a major road link connecting to other districts. It comes with a number of benefits tailored to rooting out poverty. Many trading centres are rapidly developing” he said
He appealed to the people of Kibuku, Pallisa, Kumi and Budaka to take advantage of these roads to engage in viable projects that will serve the growing population.

Budaka LC5 chairman, Mr Sam Mulomi, re-echoed the message, saying that the new roads will be a driving force in developing these districts. Previously, these roads were totally impassable to cross to other neighbouring districts.

Improved transportation
Once complete, transportation of produce to markets will improve, putting an end to impassable roads.
For instance, in the past, many travelers would connect to Pallisa via Tirinyi, which would make the journey longer by 15km and while from Kumi, one could travel via Mbale to reach Pallisa, which was quite expensive.

Many farmers, commuter minibus drivers, vendors and residents are looking forward to reaping the benefits associated with tarmac roads. Once complete, drivers who ferry agricultural produce over hundreds of kilometres in eastern Uganda will save on time spent on the road.

Mr Moses Kagwa, a farmer from Pallisa, said a couple of years ago, transport along Tirinyi-Pallisa, was very difficult. The road had huge potholes and was impassable especially during rainy season as vehicles would get stuck in the muddy road for hours.
The road is being upgraded from murram to tarmac.

“We are now able to access markets for our produce out the district,” he said
Mr John Mwaka, a taxi driver on the Pallisa-Kamonkoli Road, said before the road was upgraded,a trip to Mbale was unbearable. The road was bumpy.

“Now it takes less than one and a half hours to drive from Pallisa to Mbale unlike in the past when the same journey would take them at least three hours,” he said.
Another businessman identified as Micheal Kamya is equally excited because the work is progressing on well.

The Arab Contractor general manager, Mr Salah Radwan told Prosper magazine that construction works are going on smoothly and pledged that works will be completed in time.

He explained that Arab Contractors is committed to speeding up works even if it means working on a daily basis.

Mr Radwan said the company has put up stringent measures to curtail theft of fuel.
All heavy vehicles have been fitted with GPS monitors to keep tabs on their location despite resistance from drivers.

“I don’t entertain stealing of fuel. This is sabotaging the project. Whoever, is involved in such acts is warned,” Mr Radwan said.

A section of drivers and operators had gone on a sit-down strike over a number of allegations, which the general manager, Mr Salah Radwan said were unfortunate because the company was working within the laws of Uganda.