Oyam District commits to utilize all roads funds as financial year closes

By Chris Woo (editor@vol.co.ug)

Oyam

Oyam district leaders have committed to utilize all roads maintenance funds without returning it to the central treasury.

This was revealed at a press conference held after a meeting of the district roads committee chaired by Oyam district woman MP, Santa Alum Ogwang at the engineering department offices.

In the financial year 2023/2024, government allocated shillings 1Billion to all districts in the country for road maintainace after a loud outcry from local government leaders of the meager funds which were given to them for district and feeder roads maintainance.

Oyam District currently has over 512Kms of roads which the district has to maintain using the shillings 1Billion according to the LCV Chairperson Benson Walter Dila Oyuku.

MP Alum Santa Ogwang who is also the chairperson district roads committee decried low funding to the district which she said has a wide geographical area, and that the money is inadequate to work on all the roads in the district.

Alum said they will work to ensure that all the roads maintenance funds are utilized and  not returned to the central pool after the elapse of the current fiscal year.

George Okite Okeng the district engineer of Oyam made a similar pledge and said they are only left with three roads to be worked on.

Brian Ogutu the LCV councilor of Aber Sub County who doubles as secretary for works and technical services said most roads that connect to schools and health facilities in the district have been rehabilitated and expressed hope that the district will not return unspent funds to the central treasury

Oyam district chairman Benson Walter Dilla Oyuku said 13 million shillings unutilized funds was returned to the central government coffers last financial year.