For more than two decades, the people of Tororo and Butaleja have waited patiently, enduring broken promises and worsening road conditions as the Nagongera-Busolwe road continues to crumble under the weight of neglect.
During the dry season, the road becomes a dusty, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. And when the rains set in, it turns into a muddy trap, with floods washing away bridges, paralyzing the movement of people and goods.
“This road has caused us untold suffering,” lamented Noah Okumu, a district councillor.
“You are aware that councillors were arrested along this road and taken to Morukatipe Prison for protesting its poor state. Now elections are coming, what are we going to tell the people?"
The frustration echoes across local leadership, with Councillor Micheal Ochoki expressing dismay at the government's failure to act despite repeated promises.
“President Museveni has mentioned this road in his manifesto time and again for 25 years now, but nothing has been done on the ground,” he said.
As the country enters yet another rainy season, the urgency to address the road’s condition is more pressing than ever.
Residents and leaders alike are demanding the government to honor its long-standing pledge to tarmac the road, which they see as vital to unlocking economic potential and improving livelihoods across Bukedi subregion.
“How will an ordinary person fight poverty when the roads are in this condition?” asked Patrick Omare, Chairperson for Works and Technical Services in Tororo.
“Enough is enough! Let the president tell us the truth if this road won’t be worked on in his regime, let’s know and move on.”
Despite the mounting pressure, the government insists the road project is still on course.
Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth who also serves as MP for West Budama central revealed that the Ministry of Works has finalized the design and feasibility studies.
“The road is now a bankable project,” Oboth said. “It wasn’t included in NDP III, but it has been rolled over to NDP IV, and it will be among the first projects to be executed.”
But locals remain skeptical about Oboth's revelation, having heard similar assurances before.
“Two years ago, our leaders told us feasibility studies were complete and roadworks were about to begin. Where is it? Now they’re saying NDP IV,” Omare remarked sarcastically. “We have heard of NDP I, II, and III. Maybe we should now talk of NDP 40, who knows?”
But the hopeful Oboth Oboth has urged residents to look beyond the road itself.
“To our people, roads alone will not end poverty. We need to start planning for the opportunities the road will bring. Let’s think of the economic activities we’ll pursue once the road is done,” he advised.
Yet, for a road that has appeared in every NRM manifesto for the past 25 years, faith is dwindling. Many residents feel betrayed, watching a once-cherished promise morph into a symbol of political rhetoric and lost hope.
As the 2026 elections approach, the fate of the Nagongera-Busolwe road may become a litmus test for voters weary of waiting.