Soroti City Residents Cry Out Over Worsening State of Roads and Flooding

Residents of Soroti City have voiced deep frustration over the deteriorating condition of the local road network, which has severely disrupted transport and caused widespread flooding during heavy rains. Spanning over 1,000 roads across former municipality wards and newly annexed areas, the infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the city’s growth since its creation in 2020.

Business owners operating in the industrial area along Aliabu Road note that heavy commercial trucks struggle daily with massive potholes and non-existent drainage. Francis Oluka, a local produce dealer, explained that runoff water frequently floods nearby warehouses and processing mills. Despite previously undergoing refurbishment under the USMID project in 2014, the road quickly deteriorated.

Residential areas face similar challenges. Rose Kongai, a resident of Akim Ward, pointed out that Old Mbale Road transforms into an impassable lake during storms, threatening homes and even the route leading to the State Lodge. Local leaders attribute the crisis to a constrained resource envelope, though Eastern Division councillor Morshid Nanji noted that MPs have lobbied the Ministry of Works and Transport for minor interventions.

Engineer Johnson Mutyamba from the Ministry of Works and Transport stated that technical inspections have been conducted to address priority access roads and install proper drainage systems ahead of a future comprehensive overhaul. Meanwhile, Soroti City Mayor Francis Esudu assured the public that efforts are ongoing at both technical and political levels to resolve the transport crisis.

Read the full report on Daily Monitor.