A major road project once seen as Karamoja’s link to East African trade is now a grim reminder of failed promises and poor planning.
The Shs 236 billion Moroto–Lokitanyala Road, awarded to China Railway Number 3 and overseen by the Uganda National Roads Authority, has been abruptly abandoned—just steps from completion.
Intended to boost commerce between Uganda and Kenya and ease transportation in the neglected Karamoja sub-region, the road now lies in ruins. What should have been a lifeline is now a dusty, trench-riddled hazard.
The chaos followed the controversial merger of UNRA into the Ministry of Works. Officials blame this bureaucratic shuffle for the contractor’s sudden withdrawal.
According to Moroto Municipality Mayor Ismail Mohammed, the transition lacked coordination, leaving contractors, stakeholders, and staff in disarray.
“It’s unfortunate there was no proper transition plan,” said Mayor Mohammed. “That vacuum is what led to this abandonment.”
A Broken Promise to the People
On the ground, locals are paying the price. Shops that closed to prepare for expected economic revival remain shuttered. Sidewalk trenches meant to protect pedestrians have turned into dumping grounds, filled with garbage and posing real danger to children.
“Kids now play in these open trenches,” said Parmu Felix Jalpara, a boda boda rider. “One wrong move and someone could get badly hurt.”
For many riders like Parmu, the road is both their workplace and their nightmare. Dust clouds choke the air, and scattered stones regularly pierce motorcycle tyres.
“It’s unbearable,” added his colleague, Paul Munyes. “We work in this dust daily. It’s affecting our health and our bikes.”
Floods, Disease, and Dust in Hospitals
As rains pound the region, floodwaters rush off the unfinished road into Moroto Town. Business owners say the waters carry filth into their shops, raising fears of disease outbreaks.
“Every time it rains, our shops flood,” said Judith Ajilong, a local trader. “We’re scared of what illnesses might come with it.”
Even hospitals are not safe. Mayor Mohammed revealed that Moroto Regional Referral Hospital now battles layers of dust in its wards.
“That’s no place for the sick. Patients deserve clean, safe environments—not hospitals covered in construction dust,” he stressed.
Homeless and Forgotten
Adding insult to injury, many homes were demolished to make way for the road. Years later, most of those displaced have yet to receive compensation.
“These families are homeless, starting over with nothing,” said Mayor Mohammed. “It’s unacceptable.”
He urged the Ministry of Works and other authorities to intervene and finish the job.
“This project is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. The people of Moroto deserve better.”
Until action is taken, the Moroto–Lokitanyala Road stands as a painful monument to mismanagement—where progress stalled, lives were disrupted, and no one has been held accountable.
