By Henry Okello
TORORO
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has directed Tororo Municipal Council to expedite the acquisition of right of way for the much-anticipated Uganda Support to Cities and Municipal Infrastructure Development (USCMID) project, warning that delays could jeopardize World Bank funding.
The project, which will see nearly 14 kilometers of roads tarmacked and a 6-kilometer drainage system constructed, is expected to transform connectivity and trade in Tororo.
Trio Consultant Ltd, contracted to design the roads and drainage, estimates the municipality will require 57.1 billion shillings for the road works and 3 billion shillings for drainage.
The consultant’s assessment revealed that 561 project-affected persons (PAPs) stand to be impacted, yet only 161 have signed consent forms granting right of way.
Without widespread consent, the World Bank—principal funder of the project, may suspend implementation.
Key roads facing right of way challenges include: Commercial Street, Juba Road, Church, and Chaminula Road
Doreen Kembabazi, a community affairs officer at the ministry, emphasized during a stakeholder validation meeting on Thursday, 12th February, 2026 that the council must secure right of way by the end of this month to allow tendering to begin.
“We are in the final stages of negotiations with the World Bank. But unless the council resolves right of way issues, the project risks stalling,” she cautioned.
Tororo Town Clerk, Ayub Kisubi, pledged that the council will tackle barriers hindering progress, stressing that “there is no way the World Bank can put their money in roads that have issues.”
Municipal Speaker, Clement Ochai urged consultants to design cost-effective roads to maximize coverage, while USCMID coordinator, Emmanuel Odongo confirmed ongoing engagements with PAPs to ensure compliance with guidelines.
Apart from right of way concerns, Odongo noted that the municipality is ready to implement the project, which is expected to significantly boost trade, ease transport, and improve urban infrastructure.
The ministry has now called upon the Municipal Development Forum and political leaders to rally communities and accelerate land acquisition, ensuring Tororo does not miss out on this transformative program.
