Erute South Member of Parliament and Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Sam Engola, has warned against the misuse and diversion of public funds allocated for road works, saying every shilling must deliver value to communities.
Engola made the remarks during a joint monitoring exercise with Lira District officials to inspect road projects implemented under the district’s UGX 1 billion road maintenance grant for the 2025/2026 financial year.
The inspection covered completed, ongoing and upcoming road projects, including the 10.2km Amach Market–Abongomola Border road, the 3.8km Amunamun–Alik Health Centre III road, the 4.2km Kekere–Abutoadii road, the 8.5km Awiodyek–Alworo road, the 8.9km Amach Town Council–Adip road and the 0.6km low-cost sealed road in Amach Town Council constructed at a cost of UGX 346 million.
The team also monitored the 10.2km Corner Munu–Corner Enyang road, the 8.9km Barr Town Council–Apala Border road and the 15km Alworo–Corner Adek road via Awal Swamp to Akuli Town Council, a World Bank-funded project expected to improve agricultural productivity and market access. Construction of the 8.8km Agali Seed Secondary School–Ocamonyang road is also expected to begin soon, while the 14.4km Agali Sub-county Headquarters–Atapara Corner road is being funded by KfW.
Engola said the latest inspection brings the total road network he has personally championed in Erute South Constituency to 112 kilometres.
“We cannot allow public resources meant to improve the lives of our people to be diverted. Every road project must be completed to the required standard and every taxpayer’s shilling must be accounted for,” he said.
He described improved road infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, easier access to markets, healthcare and education, adding that government investments should directly improve livelihoods.
The monitoring team later visited Onywako Health Centre II, where Engola pledged to engage the Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, on upgrading the facility and constructing a maternity ward to improve maternal and child health services.
Engola commended the Resident District Commissioner, the Lira District Chairperson, the District Engineer, councillors and technical staff for their oversight role, urging them to remain vigilant in ensuring government-funded projects are implemented transparently and efficiently.