The road linking Obongi and Moyo districts in Uganda's West Nile sub-region has become nearly impassable, sparking outrage among residents, traders, and local leaders.
The onset of the rainy season has worsened an already dire situation, with several trucks and vehicles now regularly getting stuck in the mud along critical sections of the route.
Obongi District, which was carved out of Moyo District in 2019, continues to grapple with limited infrastructure, and the lack of road maintenance equipment has only amplified the crisis.
"This is not just a road—it's our lifeline. Now it feels like we are cut off from the rest of the world," lamented Grace Limio, a mother of five and small-scale farmer in Itula Sub-county.
"When it rains, even boda bodas cannot pass. Children miss school, patients can’t reach hospitals, and our produce rots in the villages."
Truck drivers who transport goods between the two districts are also bearing the brunt of the situation.
“I spent hours in the bush because my truck sank in the mud near Laropi,” said Ahmed Lule, a truck driver from Kampala.
“There’s no help, no grader, no attempt to fix the road. We’re on our own.”
Obongi District Chairperson Habib Khemis Buga, in a recent press conference described the situation as a "development disaster."
“Obongi lacks basic road maintenance equipment. We have made repeated appeals to the Ministry of Works, but the response has been slow. People are suffering,” he said.
Hajj Buga added that without urgent intervention, the economic and humanitarian toll will only deepen, especially in hard-to-reach sub-counties like Aliba, Ewafa, and Gimara.
As the rains continue to fall, the people of Moyo and Obongi are left with a road network that is crumbling beneath their feet, and a growing sense that they have been forgotten.
“We are part of Uganda too,” said youth leader Simon Amale. “Our people deserve better roads, just like anyone else.”
Local leaders have called on the central government and development agencies to prioritize road infrastructure, allocate maintenance equipment, and deploy emergency response teams during rainy seasons.
Until such interventions are made, the people of Obongi will continue to struggle under the weight of a poor road network that restricts their right to health, education, trade, and development.