Macadamised Boulevard near Rwenzori Mountains (Western Uganda)
At sunrise on Wednesday 11th June 2008, someone asked me if Uganda is developed. Stunned by the ironic question, I half-heartedly replied “No”, because there are two sides to this issue. “We aren’t that developed but are heading there at a rate of 9 per cent (at least according to the National Budget then)…”
Okay, the first reason why we aren't developed is that when it rains heavily, murram roads are muddy and sometimes impassable.
Secondly, we still use bicycles and haven't learnt how to travel on skates (though there is a skateboard rink somewhere in Kitintale, Kampala - ‘The first’ of its kind in Uganda, according to Sunday Vision Newspaper in June 2008).
Thirdly and most importantly, political leaders or MPs (Members of Parliament) plus other people with the right power take some time to effect infrastructural development policies despite their voters’ grievances. Instead of allocating funds appropriately, the corrupt channel money to do their own business yet good roads cut the cost and time of doing business. Malawi is reported to possess the Best Roads in Africa. One day, some Malawians visited Kampala and were shocked to find potholes in our capital city.
Since 1962, several development partners like the World Bank have supported Uganda’s road transport and infrastructure development. The creation of the Road Agency Transformation Unit and its successor Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) are testament to that development priority. Uganda’s three time democratically re-elected president, Yoweri Museveni, has given priority to the development of physical infrastructure. Forget the many tall buildings mushrooming all over Uganda; many roads have been tarmacked ever since M7 came to power in 1986 when I was only two years old. From Bwera (West) to Soroti and Lira (East), there have been visible developments. Part of the Entebbe Highway was made more spacious with four lanes separated in the middle. Likewise, the Jinja Highway near Kakira was also redesigned.
I hail from West Nile (Northwestern Uganda) and the journey to my homeland used to be riddled with potholes created by the notorious LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) Rebels who planted landmines in the Gulu Highway. The road from Karuma to Arua was murram and during dry spells, I would feel like I was suffocating from dust entering the bus. On rainy days, vehicles got stuck and journeys meant for one day would have overnight sleepovers within the bushy Kabalega National Park where dangerous animals like lions exist. After the route was transformed into an all-weather road, the Expected Time of Arrival and many hazards reduced. Meanwhile, the Northern By-pass for diverting heavy trucks in Kampala was also constructed despite complaints that it should have four lanes everywhere instead of two in some stretches. The Southern By-pass is currently under construction, with support from China, the world’s next superpower. A Chinese company CICO is also working on the Kaya Highway from Vurra (Congo Border) to Arua (at the Heart of West Nile) to Oraba (South Sudan Border) which will definitely reduce poverty.
The problem with Africans is that we focus too much on the image of how poor we have been categorised by Western powers yet the simple remedy is macadamized roads. Road improvement will reduce poverty in developing countries; that is the democracy that delivers. Entrepreneurs think governments cannot end unemployment by simply giving people money. It starts with mindsets; without a business plan, that fund cannot be multiplied but will just be misused. Nevertheless, most people desire growth and they do not need governments to feed them; they can grow their own food. They do not need governments to heal them; they can set up private clinics, use herbs that work or pray for divine healing. Developing countries do not need their governments to educate them; people learn from their elders, do personal research and attend private schools. Rural people do not need electricity from their governments; they can do without a national grid and use solar batteries, dry cells or wind power. However, they cannot tarmac their roads alone.
What developing countries need are well developed highways, durable, safely designed bridges and feeder roads connecting different villages plus towns and linking them to neighboring countries. With this tarmac network, people will naturally find efficient ways of maximizing roads. Their children will travel to school with ease even on rainy days; they will comfortably carry their agricultural produce like maize, mangoes, cabbages, pineapples or cassava to markets and explore many other enterprises for development like logistics and construction. Citizens ought to use social media namely Facebook, twitter and Blogger to express what they desire from policy makers.
AIKOBUA-EDWARD
