The Government of Uganda has launched a major road rehabilitation programme aimed at improving transport and economic activities in Northern Uganda. Through the Ministry of Local Government, contracts have been signed to rehabilitate 139 kilometres of district and community access roads across nine districts under the Rural Development for Food Security in Northern Uganda (RUDSEC) Project.
The rehabilitation works are expected to begin next week after the official handover of project sites to contractors. The project will cover roads in Lamwo, Agago, Pader, Dokolo, Lira, Oyam, Serere, Soroti and Kaberamaido districts, with the goal of improving movement of people and goods while strengthening access to markets, schools, health facilities and other essential services.
The road upgrades are expected to provide a major boost to agriculture, especially for smallholder farmers who often struggle to transport their produce due to poor road conditions. By improving connectivity between rural communities and trading centres, the project will help farmers access better markets, increase production and support local economic growth.
Speaking during the contract signing, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, highlighted the importance of reliable road infrastructure in Uganda’s development journey.
He said that agricultural transformation and industrial growth depend heavily on having accessible and motorable roads that support trade, service delivery and other economic activities.
“Agri-industrialization is central to Uganda’s journey towards middle-income status. That transformation begins with motorability and accessibility through roads, which facilitate trade, service delivery and other development activities,” Kumumanya said.
The project will involve the rehabilitation of several key roads, including the Agago–Kalongo–Lomoi Road sections covering nearly 30 kilometres, Lamwo–Corner Ogwec–Tenten Road, Puranga–Ogonyo–Achola Stream Road in Pader, and Agweng–Barlonyo and Akano–Lwala roads in Lira.
Other roads to be improved include Alwimac–Awiri–Asalim Road in Dokolo, Ochero–Bugoi Road in Kaberamaido, Atirir–Orungo Border Road in Soroti, as well as Serere Upper Shops–Akoboi and Kamod–Otimong–Akobi roads in Serere.
Beyond improving transport, the project is expected to create employment opportunities for local communities during construction while supporting long-term economic activities in the targeted districts. Better roads will also make it easier for government services and private sector investments to reach rural areas.
Kumumanya urged contractors to carry out the work with professionalism, transparency and commitment to quality. He also encouraged them to work closely with district leaders, employ people from surrounding communities and ensure that environmental protection measures are followed throughout the construction process.
The RUDSEC Project is a rural infrastructure and agricultural development initiative implemented by the Ministry of Local Government. It is funded by the Government of Uganda and the German Government through the KfW Development Bank.
The project aims to increase agricultural incomes and improve food security among smallholder farmers by strengthening rural infrastructure and improving access to markets. The rehabilitation of these roads is expected to play a key role in transforming rural communities by opening up new opportunities for trade, farming and better livelihoods across Northern Uganda.
