Alliance for National Transformation Party decry the sorry state of infrastructure in West Nile

Harrowing experience on roads from Nebbi to Zombo was pointed out by officials of The Opposition
Alliance for National Transformation party as a key challenge impeding the economic development
and productivity in the area.

The opposition political party Alliance for National Transformation formed in 2019 by General
Mugisha Muntu is in Zombo for the grassroots building outreach programs.

The party that is aiming at building a strong foundation are on a nationwide tour at the county level in
all districts.

At a press conference with journalists at Syke World Motel in Paidha town council on April 30, the
party president General Mugisha Muntu revealed that “roads are a big problem in Zombo and
Nebbi”.

Muntu also blamed the alarming state of infrastructure in the area on the intentional mismanagement of
the country’s resources under the watch of the current ruling National Resistance Movement party.

He rallied West Nile citizens “to make the necessary lawful sacrifice to change Uganda “by joining
hands regardless of political affiliations.

“When you see the hard-working nature of Zombo people and the fertile soil and their engagement
in crops like Arabica Coffee, Matooke and so, you wonder why the poverty level here is so alarming. I
think there is a problem with the infrastructure because when there are poor roads in any area, it hits
people who are in farming, transportation, businesses etc.. After all, prices go up” Explained Muntu.

The 119km Nebbi-Goli-Paidha –Zeu-Warr-Vura road has been a song and a dance amongst political,
religious and cultural leaders in greater Nebbi. Still, for decades, no tangible solutions have been
provided notwithstanding a string of “repeated promises “about the road made by President
Museveni since 1996.

The road becomes impassable during rainy seasons and turns dustier during dry season, plunging the
community into a total state of bother with no solutions.

The Alliance for National Transformation party believes that conducting grass root building outreach
programmes, the community will be acquainted with the knowledge of leadership and governance,
such that they make informed decisions whilst choosing pro-development leaders.

Hon Kasiano Wadri, The national coordinator in charge of mobilization for ANT attributed the
the deplorable state of infrastructure in greater Nebbi to entrenched corruption that the current
the establishment has promoted and failed to address.

He added that the funds being plundered by officials within this government can address the
country’s infrastructure crisis by the stroke of a pen, but the current government are instead
reluctant.

“All the infrastructure crisis we are witnessing here is because we lack value-driven leadership.
Fighting corruption in Uganda doesn’t need magical powers. Laws should be applied to fight the
corrupt who are plundering resources we can use to address the current infrastructure crisis.” Wadri
said

Angelline Osege, The former female member of parliament for Soroti accompanying the Alliance
for the National Transformation team, equally appealed for a mindset change, especially amongst the
youths so that they focus on leaders who run the country on values, not emotion.

This she stressed will result in quality service delivery in areas of infrastructure, health, and education amongst others.

Meanwhile, Martin Okumu, The national coordinator of research and policy at ANT, said politicians in
the country “are on sale because of commercialised politics “and end up failing to demand
quality service for the electorates.

He decried the sorry state of infrastructure in the area revealing that the quality and productivity of
coffee from Zombo has fallen over the years pegging it to many factors with infrastructure as key.

The districts of Zombo, Nebbi, and Pakwach are endowed with a bulk of agricultural products like
coffee, matooke, beans, cotton, and highly marketable fish species amongst others, but people in the
area grapple with the nerve-racking experience of poor road infrastructure. Many people have lost
hope given the series of outcry that for years has been going unanswered.

Recently, The King of Alur His Majesty Ubimu Phillips Rauni Ularker III, appealed to the government
to fix the pressing infrastructure challenge the subjects are grappling with daily.

According to media reports, in a month, at least more than five cases of deadly road crashes are
recorded on greater Nebbi roads and most of the cases are occasioned by the sorry state of roads in the
area.

During last month’s commissioning ceremony of the office of the Presidency office In Nebbi
Municipality, The LCV chairperson of Nebbi district Emmanuel Orombi told the minister of the Presidency
Milly Babalanda that, the members of the opposition political parties are gaining ground in greater
Nebbi because of the sorry state of infrastructure especially roads in the area.

The current NRM party establishment has been for decades having a stronger footing in the three
districts of Nebbi, Zombo and Pakwach.

But Robert Mugabe, a staunch member of the opposition Alliance for National Transformation from
Gulu City accompanying the ANT mobilization team in west Nile charged Ugandans to rise lawfully against the current leadership that has failed to address ” broken health care, education,
infrastructure “ amongst others