Amolator, Uganda – Amolatar District, a key transit hub in northern Uganda, is grappling with a severe road infrastructure crisis that has paralyzed economic activity and isolated communities.
Following urgent appeals from district leaders, the government, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, has committed to swift intervention to rehabilitate the vital Dokolo-Namasale Road and support the district’s overwhelmed road network.
The Dokolo-Namasale Road, a crucial 88-kilometer connection linking Amolatar to other districts and Kampala, has been rendered nearly unusable.
Torrential rains in October and November, coupled with the diversion of traffic from the closed Karuma Bridge, have left the road in an alarming state.
Heavy vehicles seeking alternative routes have overwhelmed the district’s underdeveloped roads, damaging culverts, creating bottlenecks, and causing widespread disruptions.
“The current state of our roads is beyond deplorable. Businesses are paralyzed, and access to essential services is nearly impossible,” said Geoffrey Ocen Kiring, LC V Chairperson of Amolatar District.
In response, a high-level meeting chaired by Honourable Minister of Works and Transport, General Katumba Wamala, was convened on December 6, 2024.
Key district and national stakeholders attended the meeting, including the Resident District Commissioner Francis Okello Odoki Rwotlonyo, Chief Administrative Officer, engineers, and mechanical experts.
Key resolutions from the meeting included:
1. General Katumba Wamala pledged to present an emergency maintenance request for the Dokolo-Namasale Road to the cabinet on December 9, 2024, seeking immediate approval to mobilize resources and commence repairs.
2. The ministry will release critical road maintenance machinery, including a bulldozer, backhoe, grader, and roller, from the Gulu Regional Mechanical Workshop to Amolatar District. These will support emergency repairs until January 2025.
3. The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has been directed to identify a contractor who will begin work on the road as soon as cabinet approval is secured.
4. Amolatar District will create alternative access routes and undertake spot improvements using ministry-provided equipment. The district will also assess and repair grounded machinery, such as its wheel loader, to enhance future road maintenance efforts.
In a letter dated December 5, 2024, LC V Chairperson Geoffrey Ocen Kiring formally requested permission from the Ministry of Works to continue using ministry equipment for emergency road works.
The district also requested additional machinery, committing to cover operational costs such as fuel, lubricants, and operator allowances.
“Amolatar is a lowland peninsula prone to flooding, and the diverted traffic has overwhelmed our roads. This is a national issue that requires urgent attention,” Ocen Kiring emphasized.
The Dokolo-Namasale Road, one of the few remaining routes to Kampala following the Karuma Bridge closure, is critical for the movement of goods and passengers.
Its restoration will not only alleviate the suffering of Amolatar residents but also ensure connectivity for the broader northern region.
General Katumba Wamala reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the crisis.
“The ministry recognizes the strategic importance of the Dokolo-Namasale Road. This situation can not wait. We are mobilizing all resources to provide immediate relief,” he said.
As the cabinet prepares to deliberate on the matter on Monday, December 9, 2024, the people of Amolatar are cautiously optimistic.
If approved, the proposed interventions could commence within days, offering much-needed relief and restoring vital transport links.
For now, the district remains in anticipation of action that will transform promises into tangible progress, ensuring that Amolatar can once again thrive as a key economic and transit hub.