To complete tarmacking the Atiak-Laropi road, the government recently extended its contract with the STRABAB Company. According to the new agreement, the 66-kilometer road is scheduled to be completed by September 30 of next year.
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The compensation of project-affected individuals as well as the acquisition of land for gravel, among other things, led to the roadworks, which were set to end next month, being delayed.
The Atiak-Laropi road funding
The European Union is funding the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda program, which includes the Sh235b Atiak-Laropi road project. The role of the government is to purchase the land and pay the landowners compensation. They are optimistic that they will complete the task before the deadline.
The program manager of STRABAG, Mr. Safet Keco, recently said that the construction of the culvert bridges is almost complete. By February of next year, according to project consultant Mr. Bernard Ocan, streetlights will be completed from Atiak-Dzaipi to Pakelle.
The road has a top-notch asphalt surface and two-meter shoulders, as well as bridges and guardrails. By the end of March 2023, they expect to complete the road within Adjumani Town as well as the other areas, according to Mr. Ocan.
Mr. Julius Mwesigwa, station manager for the Moyo District of the Uganda National Roads Authority, stated that the road will be improved from gravel to class II bitumen with a carriageway width of 7 meters and 2 meter wide shoulders on each side.
The project’s expected impacts
Consequently, trade with South Sudan will grow, and goods will move more conveniently. The project will promote trade and transportation, according to Moyo Chairperson Mr. William Anyama.
On the Atiak-Moyo-South Sudan border, the road traverses through the districts of Amuru and Adjumani. Additionally, it traverses through the trading hubs of Dzaipi, Pakelle, and Adjumani Town before ending at Umi, which is where ferries land on the Nile.
As part of the project, streetlights will be installed, and 4 km of town roads will also be upgraded.
