NOSP gives hope to Acholi, Karamoja residents

A cumulative progress report on the National Oilseeds Project (NOSP) across the 81 districts countrywide shows steady progress. 

Launched in July 2021, the seven-year project is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Local Government.

The Ministry of Local Government is handling key component two (C2) of the project which focuses on the construction of 2,500 kilometres of community access roads across more than 81 districts. Batches A and B of the project will handle 1,034 and 1,466 kilometres of roads, respectively.

Physical progress indicates that under the Batch A contract, the contracts are valued at Shs108.36 billion, split into 82 lots. This represents 41 per cent of the total 2,500 kilometres of roads planned for construction and rehabilitation.

Hajji Yasin Ssendaula, project coordinator at NOSP, said that out of 82 contracts awarded under Batch A, 48 contracts have been substantially completed, representing 58.5 per cent progress, while 11 contracts range between 60 per cent and 79 per cent.

Still under physical progress, under Batch B, 1,466 kilometres were earmarked for construction or rehabilitation. He said the contracts committee has subsequently approved evaluation reports for four consulting firms that bid for design services.

“Notices of Intent to Award (NOITA) have been issued and draft contracts are being processed for submission to the Solicitor General for clearance,” Ssendaula said.

During the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of NOSP held at Kabalega Resort Hotel from February 12 to 13, 2026, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Benjamin Kumumanya, commended the progress made so far.

He noted that NOSP’s investment in Community Access Roads fulfils Pillar 2 of the Parish Development Model (PDM) by supporting agricultural value chains, improving the movement of goods and people, reducing transport costs, and strengthening market linkages.

He further emphasised that the Ministry of Local Government, as the lead agency for PDM implementation, is focused on transforming households from the subsistence economy to the monetary economy.

He called for stronger synergies between PDM structures, farmers’ groups, and seed businesses to ensure sustainable community impact.

“These roads are critical in reducing transport costs, improving movement of goods and people and linking farmers to markets,” he said.

Years on, component two has taken forms in northern Uganda – with residents of Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions saying the project is already changing their lives.

John Okia, a resident of Odolo village, Gwera parish, Pogo sub-county, Amuru, said the project is helping communities in so many ways. Okia, a member of the Parish Development Committee of Gwera, said they have been in close contact with the contractor, telling him “what to do.”

As expected of the project that farmers grow oilseed crops, Okia revealed that communities are ready to plant soya beans, sunflowers, among others.

The new bridge under construction links them to Atyak health centre IV in Atyak sub-county and has eased free movement.

“Before the bridge, some died in the water, and access to schools was a big challenge. Today, some children use this bridge to go and study in Atyak sub-county, and we see them come to Pogo, too,” a PDC member revealed.

Margaret Acan, a farmer and resident of Okinga West village, Gemonyot parish in Acholibur sub-county, Pader district, whose access road passes in front of her home, thanks President Museveni for constructing the road for them, stating that she will benefit from the project.

As farmers prepare their gardens for a new planting season, Acan plans to plant sunflowers, soybeans, groundnuts, simsim, and cassava.

Another resident of the area, Okot Limpe, grows sunflowers and soybeans, including other non-oilseed crops. He said that the community access road is linking farmers and communities in the area to the neighbouring Kitgum district.

Before the road, farmers like Limpe found it difficult to reach markets, with the cost of transport being shs15,000 to Kitgum town for passengers. They now pay not more than shs10,000 to get to Kitgum from Pader.

Richard Oboma, is another resident of Okinga West village. He said that before the road was constructed, they had challenges in transporting their produce to the markets.

Describing the CAR in Okinga West as “good road,” Oboma revealed that expectant mothers too, can now access the Okinga West Health Centre.

Because of the road, their access to markets in Kitgum has been made easy. “We used to sell our produce, especially sunflowers, at shs1,000 per kilogram but we now sell between shs1,500 to sometimes shs2,000 per kilogram,” Oboma, also a farmer, says.

“We would really love to thank and appreciate the President of the Republic of Uganda for this project and we pledge our maximum support to him for this project,” he concluded.

Oryem William, a resident of Gwere village, Paicho sub-county, Gulu district has lived to see a road passing in front of his home.

A retired primary school teacher, Oryem, said: “I have never seen a good road like that in my life.”

Denis Okidi, from Otalaba, Opuk parish in Adunga sub-county, Abim district, said there was limited access to the market and limited access to production areas.

After the rehabilitation of a-10km access road in his area, Okidi said that there is already easy access to the markets.

He added that farmers in the area have been well-equipped and now take farming as a business, thanks to the access road.

Like his beneficiaries in Acholi, Okidi commended the President and the two ministries for uplifting farmers and communities in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions.

Godfrey Owor, district road inspector for Amuru and supervisor of NOSP in the district, said the Olamnyugu-Atyak – a 10.4km road is valued at shs2.1b.

However, he said, an additional 3-month contract extension was made after the initial 6-month period elapsed.

“We are happy that the Ministry (of Local Government) prioritised this road because the earlier project did not take on the road. This particular one has taken on the road and we are about to complete,” Owor said in an interview with tndNews, Uganda.

The district, he said, appreciates the Ministry, Office of the President for having accepted the project to come to northern Uganda.

Opio John Bosco, the acting CAO of Amuru told this publication that the rehabilitation of the road from Olamnyugu in Pogo connecting to Atyak town council via Atyak sub-county.

“In the contract document, it’s 10.2km though at the point of execution, we got an additional 200 meters to make it 10.4km. I am happy to say that we have executed this project and the level we have reached is over 95 per cent. The remaining 5 per cent is gravelling of less than 1km and some small welding of the guard rails on the bridge which has been constructed.

“To us as the Amuru district, we are really, really happy with this project because this 10.4km under the National Oilseeds Project has opened our farmers to the market, to the extent that it has saved us over 60km of long distance to reach this very place.”

From Pogo to Pabbo sub-county which was the only access road, the acting CAO said it is 32km. “Again, from Pogo to Atiak where we have started the road, it’s another 40km. So, one would have to travel to reach Atiak from Pogo – a distance of 72km which this road has helped and saved us.”

Because of the road, the head of civil servants in the district said farmers can access the market in Elegu.

The two sub-counties, and Amuru in general, John said, are one of the areas “where we produce most of the oilseeds” which include, among others: soya beans, groundnuts, sim-sim and sunflower.

“We are now happy that this road has exposed our farmers to potential buyers and has really saved them and the cost of their production and profits – the margin they are going to get is now going to be more.”

Most importantly, the road, John stated, will help farmers deal with middlemen who eat on their sweat and profits.

He emphasised: “Now that the road has been opened, there is a need for a power line. To the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, we also need power in the place.”

The contract, worth shs2,190,987,797, was awarded to a local company, Emaus General Workshop Company Limited. “All this would not have happened without the able leadership headed by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Mzee, we are really grateful for what you have done, and I think that is why in the recent elections, Amuru also did well.

“We are really excited and I know the government is now visible under your clear leadership and the team that you have placed in Amuru headed by me in the civil service, and the RDC and the team – we are working together.”

As of February 25, 2026, the project had reached 64.3 per cent in cumulative time progress, and 86.5 per cent in cumulative physical progress across selected districts in the country, according to Yasin Ssendaula.

Out of US$99.56m from IFAD, the Ministry of Local Government had disbursed US$20,081,292 million from July 2022 to March 2025. Between July 2022 and September 2025, US$11,786,374 million had been spent.

Of the US30m funding from the OPEC Fund, US$4,680,530 million was received between July 2022 and March 2025, with a total spending of US$2,469,020.24 million from July 2022 to September 2025.

NOSP intends to accelerate commercialisation in key oilseed value chains and thereby improve the livelihoods and resilience of the small holders engaged in oilseed production and marketing.