The ministry of Local Government has officially signed three major contracts to initiate the design and supervision of over 800 kilometers of community access roads.
The initiative aims to transform rural infrastructure and enhance agricultural productivity in northern Uganda and is part of the broader Rural Development and Food Security in Northern Uganda (RUDSEC) project.
During a contract signing ceremony held at the ministry headquarters in Kampala on April 30, 2025, Ben Kumumanya, the permanent secretary, formally awarded the contracts to three consulting firms: UB Consulting Engineers, Kom Consult, and LEA Associates. The selected firms will oversee the planning and supervision of critical road works across the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.
The contracts, worth a combined total of approximately Shs 4.2 billion, are split into three geographic packages with package one (Acholi sub-region) covering detailed engineering designs for 124.1km and supervision of construction works for 195.1km in Acholi sub-region.
Package two (Lango sub-region) covers the design of 90.8km and supervision of 132.2km in Lango sub-region while package three covers design works for 109.5 km and construction supervision for 151.4km in Teso sub-region.
This brings to a total of 803.1km to be worked on in this phase. Kumumanya emphasized the importance of completing the work efficiently within the project timeline, which ends in 2028, with no “Time is of the essence to ensure that the project is implemented and achieves its objectives within the set timeframe. There will be no extension, as there will be no resources to cater for additional time,” Kumumanya stated.
OUTLOOK
The RUDSEC project is a result of a cooperation agreement between the Ugandan and German governments. The ministry of Local Government is implementing the €32.1 million (Shs 130.2 billion) project with support from the ministry of Works and Transport on behalf of the government of Uganda.
KfW is the implementing partner of Germany’s federal ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). As part of RUDSEC’s efforts to unlock the agricultural potential and increase the income of smallholder farmers in northern Uganda, this project will focus on improving road transport and market infrastructure to create better local economic opportunities.
The road construction and rehabilitation efforts will benefit nine districts of Lamwo, Pader, Agago, Lira, Dokolo, Oyam, Soroti, Serere and Kaberamaido. In total, the RUDSEC project will rehabilitate and upgrade 1,327 kilometers of roads, focusing primarily on Community Access Roads (CARs) and district roads.
In addition to the roads, the project will also support the development of key market infrastructure. Markets slated for rehabilitation and improvement include Amach, Minakulu, Katine, Pader town council, Aswa, Dokolo, Loro, Dakabela, Abone, Arum, Oliga, Padibe, Oriamo, and Kidetok Mulago.
“The project will employ climate resilience measures to ensure that the roads remain usable in all weather conditions, including heavy rains,” says Paul Kasule Mukasa, the Local Government ministry projector coordinator.
Upon completion, the RUDSEC project is expected to directly benefit over 3,000 smallholder farmers by improving their access to markets, reducing transportation costs and minimizing post-harvest losses.
What’s more, the project is projected to create over 1,000 employment opportunities in construction, engineering design, and supervision roles. This marks a promising step forward in the government’s efforts to promote inclusive rural development, boost regional food security, and improve livelihoods in some of Uganda’s most underserved areas.
It is about time the Ministry of Local Government comes into play doing all the stuff it is supposed to do!
In most cases, this Ministry is marginalised by other “bigger” ministries whereas what those ministries are doing should be done under Local Government.
This is what we want to see, not each ministry vying for importance. Local Government should start looking at the needs of the local “governments” and adress their needs accordingly. Laisoning with othe rministries would also help in alleviating the dire plight of locals.
Kibedi Nkuutu, thanks.
This is why Ugandans MUST ensure they bring change in UNITY, then put in place the kind of governance they want, then ensure local development work for them; good housing, roads, upgrading schools, health facilities…!
Look, Palestinians are United around terrorist Hamas & developed world are with them, even knowing it’s them feeding Hamas!
D. Trump even wants to make Gaza part of USA so that it’s developed!
It took developed world 20 years to understand that tribalist divided ruled Ugandans are the ones keeping Rwandese Museveni on, reason they stated away from last fake presidential election & are now quiet about what goes on – who has the right to go against Museveni when it’s tribalists divided ruled Ugandans keeping him in power by all means?
Are tribal leaders so so well payed by Museveni saying anything about Ugandans’ miseries?
Ugandans in posts are doing everything to please Museveni while non is doing anything for the people, right?
Yet, Ugandans are preparing to go on protecting Museveni with next fake elections!