Uganda and South Sudan are seeking a common understanding to resolve a dispute that has stalled road works along their border, with Ugandan officials calling for the extension of the Kitgum–Ngomoromo road to Pogee on the South Sudan border.

The issue was raised during a cross-border meeting at Ngomoromo Border Post on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, between officials from Lamwo district in Uganda and Magwi County in South Sudan.

The meeting followed concerns that some residents on the South Sudan side had stopped contractors from the Ministry of Works and Transport from continuing road works, citing a lack of information about the project.

Lamwo Resident District Commissioner William Komakech urged South Sudanese authorities to support the extension of roads linking communities on both sides of the border, saying improved connectivity would boost trade and access to essential services.

Komakech specifically called for the road from Corner Ogwec through Tenten and Aweno Olwi to be extended towards Lobone.

He also proposed that the Kitgum–Ngomoromo road through Padibe and Lokung be extended to Pogee.

He said the international boundary should not prevent communities from benefiting from infrastructure that connects them.

“The border should not come in to interfere with us, so, let us leave the issue of the border to the central governments and deal with our issues as one family,” Komakech said.

Also read: Uganda to advance Lamwo-South Sudan road extension amid border dispute

He said better roads would facilitate the movement of people and goods, improve access to markets and social services, and strengthen economic ties between communities in Uganda and South Sudan.

Komakech also called for regular meetings between officials on both sides of the border, proposing that such engagements be held every three months to review outstanding issues and prevent misunderstandings.

Magwi County Commissioner Lam Francis Gabriel Ogiki said the disagreement over the road works was partly caused by inadequate communication about the project.

Ogiki said some residents in Lobone had reportedly stopped the contractor because they did not have adequate information about the road project, including its scope and intended benefits.

He called for project details to be formally communicated to authorities and communities before and during implementation.

“The issue of infrastructure is important for the two countries and if it is improved, the people on both sides will enjoy the roads,” Ogiki said.

He said that if there were no outstanding disputes affecting the project, authorities could consider extending the Corner Ogwec–Tenten–Aweno Olwi road towards Lobone.

Ogiki also backed the proposed extension of the Kitgum–Ngomoromo road through Padibe and Lokung to Pogee, saying it would improve connectivity and benefit communities on both sides of the border.

The officials agreed that better communication and coordination would be necessary to prevent future misunderstandings over cross-border infrastructure projects.

South Sudanese officials said some projects being implemented across the border had not been adequately communicated to them, making it difficult for local authorities and communities to understand their purpose and scope.

During the meeting, officials also discussed the progress of the Kitgum–Ngomoromo road and the possibility of extending it beyond the current endpoint towards Pogee.

Engineer David Zoodia of the Ministry of Works and Transport’s road maintenance division, who is overseeing the road works, said the road has a total length of about 68 kilometres in ministry records.

He said about 34 kilometres had been completed from Kitgum to Lukongo, while the remaining section towards the border covers an additional 34 kilometres.

According to Zoodia, about 32 kilometres had been covered from Lukongo to the current checkpoint at Ngomoromo Border Post, leaving about two kilometres to the point where the road was initially expected to end.

He said the road had initially been planned to reach the intended endpoint, but security concerns arising from the border dispute affected maintenance and further works.

“The road was originally supposed to be eight kilometres, but because of issues which came out of the border problem, we could not continue maintaining it up to where it was supposed to be because of security reasons,” Zoodia said.

He said discussions were underway on adding about two kilometres from the current checkpoint, subject to further technical assessment and consultations with relevant authorities.

Komakech, however, said the extension should go further towards Pogee, which he estimated to be about five to six kilometres from the current checkpoint on the South Sudan side.

“We are advocating for four more kilometres on top of the two to make six,” officials said during the discussions.

Therefore, if adopted, the proposal would extend the road by about six kilometres beyond the current checkpoint, taking it closer to Pogee.

Francis Okech Oteka, the MP representing Constituency 29 in Magwi County, South Sudan, urged communities living along the Uganda–South Sudan border to maintain peaceful relations.

Oteka said development could only be sustained where communities on both sides cooperate and resolve disagreements peacefully.

He warned against actions by individuals that could provoke communities across the border and undermine infrastructure development and trade.

The officials said improved roads would create opportunities for cross-border trade, improve access to health and other social services, and strengthen interaction between communities.

They agreed that the road projects should be handled through formal communication between the two countries to ensure that local authorities and communities understand their scope before implementation.

The meeting resolved that continued dialogue and regular cross-border engagements would be necessary to address emerging concerns and maintain cooperation between Uganda and South Sudan.

The proposed extension of the Kitgum–Ngomoromo road to Pogee, however, will require further technical assessment and consultations with the Ministry of Works and Transport and relevant South Sudanese authorities.