The Ugandan government has announced plans to designate two additional border points in Eastern Uganda to alleviate traffic congestion at the Malaba and Busia border points.
This revelation came on Sunday from the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of East African Affairs, Ms. Rebecca Kadaga, during her participation in a fundraising event for the completion of St. Karoli Lwanga Catholic Church Amagoro in Tororo Municipality, Tororo District.
Ms. Kadaga highlighted the need to ease traffic flow at the major entry border points in Eastern Uganda. She identified Bulwande in Majanji Sub County and Buteba in Buteba Sub County, Busia District, as the two locations under consideration for gazetting as new border points.
The proposal to expand border infrastructure follows calls from Tororo District MPs to widen the Malaba-Kampala and Busia-Kampala highways into dual carriageways. This expansion is deemed necessary to accommodate the increasing volume of cargo trucks and reduce the frequency of accidents.
Addressing concerns about potential misuse of the new border points, Ms. Kadaga urged communities residing near these areas to support the initiative while emphasizing the importance of preventing them from becoming smuggling hubs.
During the fundraising event, Ms. Kadaga made a personal contribution of Shs10 million towards the completion of the church structure. She also urged clergy members to promote economic activities among their congregations to ensure financial stability and active participation in church development projects.
The initiative to raise funds for the church was spearheaded by Ms. Sarah Opendi, the Tororo District Woman MP. Ms. Opendi recounted her visit to the church, where she observed believers praying under trees, exposed to harsh weather conditions, prompting her to organize the fundraising drive.
In his sermon, Archbishop Dr. Emmanuel Obbo of the Tororo Archdiocese appealed to both local and national leaders to enact laws that prioritize the welfare of God’s people, cautioning against legislation solely motivated by self-interest. He emphasized the importance of generosity in supporting the completion of the church, acknowledging the challenges faced by believers during adverse weather conditions.
