The State Minister for Local Government, Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuga, has officially launched the construction of community access roads under the Rural Development and Food Security (RUDSEC) Project, signaling a major boost for infrastructure in the Teso Sub-region.
 

During the launch in Serere District, the Minister issued a stern directive to contractors: deliver high-quality work within the stipulated timelines or face the consequences of contract termination and blacklisting.

"The era of business as usual is over," Minister Nameere declared. "There will be no extensions and no excuses. The RUDSEC project timeline runs strictly up to 2028, and there are no additional resources for delays."

The RUDSEC project, a collaborative effort between the Government of Uganda and the German Government through KfW Development Bank, is designed to transition rural farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture. According to Minister Nameere, the new road network is vital to unlocking the region's agricultural potential.

"Our goal is to connect farmers to profitable markets," the Minister said. "These roads are about ensuring pregnant mothers can reach health facilities, children can access schools, and farmers can transport maize, sim-sim, and cassava without the losses caused by impassable roads."

The launch marked the commencement of three key infrastructure projects:

Serere District: Taba Services Ltd will construct the 14.9-kilometre Serere–Upper Shops–Akobol and Kamod–Otimong–Akobi Road for UGX 1.14 billion.

Soroti District: Magambi Civil Engineering (U) Ltd will undertake the 13.5-kilometre Atirir–Orungo Border Road for UGX 1.16 billion.

Kaberamaido District: Cab Uganda Limited will build the 12.8-kilometre Ochero–Bugoi Road at a cost of approximately UGX 997 million.

Minister Nameere emphasized that the Ministry would be keeping a close watch on both contractors and supervising staff. She explicitly warned against corruption, noting thatAny official found certifying substandard work would face immediate disciplinary action.
 

"I will not tolerate collusion between contractors and government officials at the expense of ordinary Ugandans," she stated, tasking Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and local leaders to perform regular, on-site inspections rather than relying on paper reports.

The Minister also appealed to the local community to act as custodians of the new roads, urging them to protect infrastructure from vandalism.

The launch was attended by political leaders , including Serere Woman MP Hon. Esther Lucy Acom, Serere County MP Hon. Emmanuel Omoding, Pingire County MP Hon. Peter Ojiit, and Serere District LC V Chairperson Eng. Martin Onguruco.

Representatives from the contracting firms pledged to mobilize machinery immediately, promising to break ground this coming Monday. They expressed confidence that the works would be completed in accordance with the stringent quality standards demanded by the Ministry.

As she flagged off the project, Minister Nameere concluded with a clear mandate for all stakeholders: "Let the work begin, let it be done perfectly, and let it be done on time."