Africa-Press – Uganda. The stalling of the highly anticipated Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project in Tororo has sparked growing concern among residents over rising insecurity and a lack of progress on the site.
Launched with pomp by President Museveni on November 21 last year, the project was expected to transform regional transportation. However, six months later, the construction site remains untouched, overgrown with thick vegetation and reportedly serving as a hideout for criminals.
The project, awarded to Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi at a cost of shs10.8 trillion for its first phase, was scheduled to begin construction shortly after its launch. But delays have left the Kasoli village site, which offers a scenic view of Tororo Rock, in a state of neglect.
The cleared land is now engulfed by bushland, raising alarm among residents and local leaders.
“The environment has become a security threat to our people. People’s animals are being stolen because bad elements are taking advantage of the bush,” said David Batanga, Chairperson of Kasoli Village.
Security personnel assigned to protect the site have also raised concerns about their safety, with some resorting to manually clearing bush around their makeshift shelters.
In response to community outcry, Tororo Municipality Mayor Kenneth Orono assured residents that efforts are underway to address the problem.
“I communicated with them about the bush issue. They assured me that they have logistics in place and are now preparing to clear the area. So within a week or two, the place will be cleared,” Orono said.
The SGR project has significantly altered the fabric of the Kasoli community. Once a densely populated area, the village saw an exodus of residents following compensation payouts linked to land acquisition. Local leaders say the displacement has weakened community cohesion and impacted political structures.
“Kasoli used to be one of the most populated areas within the municipality with a substantial voter base. With so many residents gone, this has adversely affected the political leadership structure,” said Peter Ekikina, president of the Municipal Development Forum in Tororo.
Despite the delay, officials remain optimistic. David Alele, SGR spokesperson, said construction would soon resume.
“Together with the contractor, the government has been carrying out mobilization activities. As you may have seen a couple of weeks ago, the government released funds to enable the commencement of works. The contractor has since received the funds and is now setting up camps and clearing bushes, while continuing with land acquisition along the project route. So, we are on course,” Alele said.
This sentiment was also echoed by Tororo Resident District Commissioner Sadiq Bategana, who stated, “We have compensated 98% of the project-affected, and currently, Parliament has appropriated over shs300 billion to kickstart the construction. Therefore, the population should remain calm.”
The 272-kilometre SGR line will connect Malaba to Kampala and is expected to significantly cut transport costs, boost trade, and ease congestion on Uganda’s overstretched road network.
Once phase one is complete, the line will extend to South Sudan and connect to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
As the community awaits the next steps, the hope is that the ambitious infrastructure project can live up to its promise and that urgent action will be taken to restore safety and order to the area.
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