Africa-Press – Uganda. Arua City has taken a major step towards improving its road infrastructure after acquiring a brand-new motor grader worth Shs 1.2 billion, fully funded through locally generated revenue.
The grader was officially commissioned today by the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, at a ceremony held at the Arua City headquarters.
In his address, the Minister applauded the city leadership for prudent revenue management and emphasised the importance of protecting and maintaining the grader for the collective benefit of the residents.
“This grader belongs to the people of Arua. It must be safeguarded, properly maintained, and used responsibly so that it serves the community for many years,” Magyezi said.
He further revealed that the government is committed to supporting all cities across the country with road equipment to boost accessibility and improve service delivery.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, Arua City collected Shs 6.7 billion and is projecting Shs 7.5 billion in FY 2025/2026. The Minister praised this achievement, noting that investing local revenue directly into infrastructure projects demonstrates accountability and tangible benefits for taxpayers.
Arua City now joins other cities and municipalities—including Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, Nansana, Makindye, and Kira—that have successfully procured road equipment using their own resources.
City Clerk, Mr. Kyasanku David, described the acquisition as a turning point for Arua City, which oversees more than 550 kilometers of road network. Previously, the city depended on borrowing graders from Obongi and neighboring districts, or hiring at Shs 1.5 million per day—an arrangement he said was financially unsustainable.
“With this grader, we can now open up more roads leading to schools, hospitals, and markets. This will greatly improve access, connectivity, and service delivery across the city,” Mr. David noted.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Local Government’s Urban Administration Department, district technical and political staff, private sector representatives, and members of the community.
Residents expressed optimism that the grader will accelerate road works, reduce transport costs, and enhance trade within the city and surrounding areas.
The acquisition underscores the growing importance of locally generated revenue in financing urban infrastructure and reducing dependence on central government allocations.
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