Soroti city to construct 70 roads amidst budget cut

Soroti city to construct 70 roads including connecting power and water to residents

By Robert Edwomu

Soroti – 2, November 2021: Soroti city authorities have launched the construction of 70 roads across the city with key aims of improving accessibility and good road networks.

The road works are to cover Amen, Agora, Arapai, Agama and others. These areas were prior not part of the city establishment.

Isaac Asaku is the secretary works and production  Soroti city. He said the work is funded by Uganda Road Funds and USMID.

Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) has supported or funded infrastructure development in major urban towns across the country.

Asaku has complained about the central government release which he says is meager towards the sector.

He revealed that while it was Soroti Municipality with 12 wards, they used to get road fund allocation of shs1.5 billion. “But since it got a city status with 24 wards the money has dropped to shs900 million.”

He protests the allocation looking at the magnitude of the road works in town which has left some contractors working on some roads unpaid, hence poor service delivery.

Jonathan Ebwalu, the MP Soroti City West Division and chairperson roads committee Soroti city officiated at the launch, stating that more roads will be opened and tarmacked in the city respectively.

Ebwalu said Soroti city in this financial year has earmarked tarmacking about three roads in senior quarters in the “shortest period of time possible”.

He further cited lack of City Road Unit as a burden to the good road network in within.

Joshua Edogu is the city mayor who stated that the city is connecting power and water to annexed places such that businesses can boost in those areas.

He added, “By extending such service the common man that is annexed to the city will feel the impact of the city thus paying taxes willingly.”