Ayago: Lira Town suburb to consider for investment

Surrounded by a wetland on the northeast and Lira’s industrial area on the south, Ayago Parish is located in Railway Division, Lira Municipality, about 2kms from the heart of Lira Town.
Mr Emmanuel Ogwang, the LC1 chairman of Ayago Village, says the village is rapidly developing. Today, many people are rushing to construct fuel stations here because it is on the highway. If one ran out of fuel on their way to or from Kitgum, a fuel station in Ayago would be their nearest stop.
Land
According to Mr Ogwang, most of the land in Ayago is owned customarily. Customary land is that which is owned by indigenous communities and administered in accordance with their customs, as opposed to statutory tenure which was introduced during the colonial period.

However, four years back the land ownership in Ayago started changing as residents started selling the land for development. To date, schools, factories, and residential houses have been established in the area.
A plot of land in Ayago costs Shs15m while an acre costs between Shs25m to Shs35m.
Rent
For those who prefer to stay on the outskirts of the town, Ayago is your dreamland. The rental value varies on the location. For instance, a single room on the access road costs about Shs40, 000, and a two bedroom house goes for a paltry Shs150, 000.

Ms Hellen Okonyi, a 54-year-old resident who has been living in the area since the 1980s says the cost of rental houses in the area has gradually increased.
“I came here in the 80s and rented a house at Shs2,000. However, rent is now between Shs50, 000 and Shs100, 000,” she says.
Roads
Ayago is connected to the Lira-Kitgum Highway. Its access roads are gradually developing with most of them being tarmac. Ayago business centre is just 300 metres away from Lira-Kitgum highway. Getting around Ayago is quite affordable. A boda boda ride from/to Lira town will cost you Shs2, 000 and if you opt for a cab, Shs30, 000.
Security
Ms Molly Adong, a businesswoman in the area, says her merchandise shop has been booming for the last nine years.
“I have been operating my shop here for the past nine years and the security is good which suits business operation,” she says.

Ms Adong says wholesale shops, pharmacies and rental businesses suit the area because of its growing population and available land.
Ayago has a total population of 2,422 people and 570 households, according to the National Population and Housing Census, 2014.