World Bank funding boosts livelihoods

Some of the roads that have been constructed using funding from the World Bank include Alokolum Road, Acholi Lane, Cemetery Road and Ring Road worth Shs16.1b.
A total of 17.230 kilometres of roads have been constructed since 2014 at the tune of Shs82.4b.

Ms Alice Namuddu, one of the shoe vendors on one of the streets says they are better off in Gulu unlike when they were vending on Kampala streets.
“I was a vendor in Kampala but KCCA (Kampala Capital City Authority) chased me and I sought solace here in Gulu. There are no much hurdles here because I am able to educate my children with the little I get,” Ms Namuddu says.

She adds: “I make sure that I only work in the night so that I am not disturbed by the law enforcement officers all the time. These law enforcement officers are more human, they cannot destroy your properties. You give the little you can afford (bribe) to let them leave you. We are not much harassed.”

“On average, I make Shs50,000, which is not very bad on my side. Though at times we are disturbed by street kids who want to keep in our company yet they are thieves,” she says.
“Security has also improved and whoever wants the services can access us at any time,” Ms Namuddu notes.

Positive change
Another vendor, Samuel Okumu, who roasts chicken, says the new roads and the solar lights on the streets have attracted several customers unlike in the past.

“Many people could not buy our things since the roads were inaccessible. The recent roads’ opening and widening has helped a lot, even security has improved,” he said.
Mr Okumu says he prepares a total of 10 chicken unlike in the past when he would slaughter only five.

Mr Kerry Komakech, the LC3 chairperson of Pece Division where business thrives most, says the road network has made the locals to turn their residential homes into business avenues since there are a lot of opportunities.

“The area is busy throughout the night and we are also grateful since there has been improved road network and security has improved unlike in the past when there were a lot of crimes in the areas,” Mr Komakech says.

Mr Komakech adds that as a division, there has been steady increase in revenue collection since several residential homes have been turned into shops and mobile markets at night are on the rise.

The LC3 chairperson of Layibi Division, Mr Alfred Oluba, says his division has benefited more in terms of improved road network.

“As plans are under for a city status, this is the kind of roads that we need to have in place and we are grateful to World Bank and the technical team at the municipal,” he says.
Mr George Labeja, Gulu Municipality mayor, also says there is a lot of business in the area especially when night falls.

“We are glad we have all worked as a team to see that the money given by World Bank becomes a success [used profitability] and to date we share the fruits with our people,” he says.
He adds that plans are also underway to close off some streets and have open market days and flea markets.
“We feel the plan will also increase on the local revenue,” he says.

Mr Labeja notes that both the technical and political teams worked hand-in-hand to make it a success and several other municipality leaders have been to Gulu to learn the skills used.
Since in 2015, Gulu has been ranked number one by World Bank in implementation of USMID projects among the 14 benefiting municipalities in the country.
“At human resource level, most of our staff capacities have been built through short management courses and others went for post-graduate [studies],” he says.
“Locals [residents] are reaping big through different enterprises,” Mr Labeja adds.

Employment
Gulu Municipality town clerk Francis Barabanawe says since 2014, at least 854 youth have been employed as truck drivers, machine operators, mechanics, builders and manual labourers on the multi-billion shilling road works project.

“Road works project has created a positive impact in lives of the Gulu residents in terms of employment especially among youth. Those employed are able to buy food for their family, pay school fees, buy land and marry,” he says.

According to the 2002 statistics provided by Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Gulu Town has a population of 199,430 in the four divisions of Pece, Layibi, Laroo and Bardege.
Through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, World Bank has advanced a total of Shs146.651 billion to the 14 benefiting municipalities. The fund has so far been used to finance the upgrade of 30.295km roads in the 14 municipalities.

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