Prime
Bad roads paralyse trade in Karamoja
A truck stuck on Moroto-Mbale road at the weekend after heavy rains. File photo
Karamoja.
Residents of Karamoja have expressed concern over the impassable roads which have disrupted their businesses following the current heavy rains in the sub-region.
The region has been receiving heavy rains for the past week which have also caused flooding.
Trucks from Moroto to Soroti via Katakwi road got stuck at around Iriiri Trading Centre in Napak District at the weekend, forcing several travellers to spend nights on the road.
Other roads on the verge of being cut off by the floods are Moroto-Mbale via Nakapiripirit District, especially in Tabakony Trading Centre.
Mr John Olupot, a trader in Moroto District, said transport costs for their commodities from other regions to Karamoja have started shooting up due to the bad roads.
“Whenever rains start, traders in Karamoja continue suffering.We do not know when government will come to our rescue to work on these roads so that we can also move freely like other traders in other parts of the country,” Mr Olupot said.
Karamoja depends on food from Teso, Bugisu, Lango and Sebei regions.
Ms Sarah Nachap, another trader, said the state of the roads was hindering them from doing business and urged President Museveni to address their plight.
“Our President always calls residents to invest in wealth creation, but how can we invest in wealth when the roads in Karamoja are muddy like this?” she asked.
UNRA response
The Uganda National Roads Authority station engineer in Moroto, Mr Jonathan Wazimbem, however, said their team was ready to address the situation to ensure that travelling is not disrupted.
