By Guest Writer
LUNYO, BUSIA-The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to construct a road at Mulwanda, opening a third border connection between Uganda and Kenya.
The 12- kilometer road, which will run through Lumino Sub-County in Busia District, is billed to decongest the heavily used Busia and Malaba crossings and provide a faster, cheaper route for cross-border trade between Uganda and Kenya.
“I have heard elders, including Justice James Ogoola, asking for the construction of the 12-kilometre stretch at Mulwanda. I want to take this opportunity to direct the Ministry of Works to work on this road immediately to ease the movement of our people,” Speaker Oboth order.
He issued the directive on Saturday, October 10, 2026, as Chief Guest at the thanksgiving ceremony of Hon. Julius Wandera Maganda at Butenge Primary School in Lunyo, Busia District.
The ceremony celebrated Hon. Maganda’s re-election as Member of Parliament for Samia Bugwe South and his appointment as Minister of State for Works and Transport.
“As leaders from the same region, Honourable Maganda and I understand the aspirations of our people. Our communities continue to raise concerns about the condition of roads, railway development and other infrastructure needs that affect their daily lives,” the Speaker said.
Then he counselled: “The appointment of one of our own to this important Ministry naturally raises expectations. Honourable Maganda, I encourage you to ensure that the concerns of our region are brought to the attention of Government and that our priority infrastructure needs receive due consideration within national plans and available resources.”
The Speaker, however, cautioned, that the Minister’s duty goes beyond the region.
“While serving our region, we must also remember that your responsibility extends to the entire country. In Parliament, we shall continue to play our respective roles in legislation, budgeting and oversight to support infrastructure development and service delivery across Uganda,” he said.
In his remarks, Minister Maganda acknowledge the enormous responsibility on his shoulders and appealed to his own Ministry of Works engineers present at the event to act quickly.
He observed the Kenyan government had already completed its road up to the border river at Mulwanda, leaving only Uganda’s 12-kilometre stretch from Lumino unpaved.
“The people are not asking for very expensive things. We are asking for a road, and if you do not have a tarmac road immediately, start with a murram road so that vehicles can start moving,” he said.
He revealed the road would divert heavy commercial trucks away from Busia town, easing congestion at the border, reducing accidents and boosting trade.
The Governor of Busia County in Kenya, Dr. Paul Otuoma, said a fully operational Mulwanda crossing would fulfil a dream that elders on both sides have held for over a century.
Governor Otuoma saluted the joint efforts of Kenya President Dr. William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart Gen Yoweri Museveni on improving cross border trade between the two countries.
He cited the Memorandum of Understanding signed under UN-Habitat to create the Larger Busia Metropolis and the extension of the Naivasha railway to Uganda.
“We urge the Ugandan government to complete the link, because Uganda is our largest trading partner in this region,” he said.
Speaker Oboth congratulated the Minister on what he called two important milestones.
“Your re-election reflects the trust the people have placed in you, while your appointment by His Excellency the President gives you an opportunity to contribute further to our country’s development,” he said.
Oboth further asked the people of Samia Bugwe South and Busia District to keep supporting their leaders while holding them accountable.
“Development requires cooperation between leaders, Government and the people. Honourable Maganda, yours is a call to greater service. Remain humble, accessible and committed to the needs of the people,” he counseled.
Present at the function was the NRM National Treasurer, Hon. Barbara Nekesa Oundo, who urged residents to build household wealth through the Parish Development Model, the 4-Acre Model and Emyooga.
She appealed to Parliament to help ease the financing conditions under Emyooga so that youth skilled in carpentry and metal fabrication can access start-up capital more easily.
Beyond roads, Minister Maganda outlined plans to make Samia Bugwe South the best poultry-rearing constituency in the region, with a hatchery in every village able to hatch 5,000 eggs a month.
He also announced a target of planting 4 million coffee and cocoa seedlings, of which 200,000 are already available. He invited families with an acre or half an acre of land to take seedlings so that every household has a cash crop to generate income.
The Minister further announced plans to mobilise a 600 million shillings Village Empowerment Seed Capital to support women in the constituency.
“With UGX 600 million, this Empowerment Seed Capital will cover the whole constituency from 2027 to 2030, and I want to inform all women here that I have already put UGX 100 million in place for this cause,” he said.
Speaker Oboth committed 20 million shillings to the fund.
Concluding his remarks, he urged leaders across the Bukedi region to meet ahead of national budget planning to address regional poverty and drive economic growth.
He further encouraged residents to continue supporting their elected representatives, President Museveni and the NRM manifesto. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
