Ugandan government plans new border points in Eastern Uganda

Summary:

• The Ugandan government plans to create two new border points in Eastern Uganda to ease congestion at existing ones. First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga announced the initiative during a fundraising event for a local church.

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The Ugandan government has unveiled its intentions to establish two new border points in Eastern Uganda to alleviate traffic congestion at the Malaba and Busia border crossings.

This announcement was made by Ms. Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister overseeing East African Affairs, during her participation in a fundraising event for the St. Karoli Lwanga Catholic Church Amagoro completion in Tororo Municipality, Tororo District, held last Sunday.

Ms. Kadaga stressed the necessity of improving traffic flow at key entry points in Eastern Uganda, identifying Bulwande in Majanji Sub County and Buteba in Buteba Sub County, Busia District, as potential new border points to be officially designated.

The proposal to enhance border infrastructure responds to requests from Tororo District MPs to widen the Malaba-Kampala and Busia-Kampala highways into dual carriageways, aiming to accommodate the rising number of cargo trucks and reduce accidents.

To address concerns regarding potential misuse of the new border points, Ms. Kadaga urged local communities to support the initiative while underlining the importance of preventing them from turning into smuggling centers.

During the fundraising event, Ms. Kadaga personally donated Shs10 million towards the church’s completion and encouraged clergy members to promote economic activities among their congregations for financial stability and active engagement in church development projects.

The fundraising initiative for the church was led by Ms. Sarah Opendi, the Tororo District Woman MP, who recounted her visit to the church, where she witnessed believers praying under trees in harsh weather conditions, motivating her to organize the fundraising campaign.

In his sermon, Archbishop Dr. Emmanuel Obbo of the Tororo Archdiocese appealed to local and national leaders to enact laws prioritizing the welfare of people, cautioning against legislation driven solely by self-interest. He emphasized the significance of generosity in supporting the church’s completion, recognizing the challenges faced by believers during adverse weather conditions.

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