Lira business leader criticises city council over poor roads

4 August 2026, 11:49 pm

By Hillary Opio Omara

Lira City, Lango – Bosco Ogwang Edola, the former Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Awitong of the Omolo-Atar-Odyak-Kol Clan and a businessman, has strongly criticised Lira City Council over what he described as its continued failure to repair severely damaged roads across the city.

Speaking to Radio Q FM, Ogwang expressed frustration over the deteriorating condition of the roads, saying the poor infrastructure is disrupting transport, damaging vehicles and motorcycles, and affecting businesses throughout the city.

He identified several roads that he said require urgent rehabilitation, including the road from Odokomit through Amazon Club and Police Road to Margarita Palace Hotel; the Lira Hotel–UPC President Jimmy Akena Road; the Lira Hotel–Pauline Hotel Road; the Te Atat–Bar Ogole Road; and the stretch from Shell Petrol Station to Corner Kamdini and Iteso Bar.

According to Ogwang, traders and residents have repeatedly raised concerns, but city authorities have failed to respond.

He urged Lira City Mayor Sam Atul to prioritise road maintenance, arguing that the city generates sufficient local revenue to finance the repairs.

“The business community pays taxes faithfully, yet the roads continue to deteriorate while leaders remain silent,” Ogwang said.

He added that the worsening road network is increasing transport costs and frustrating motorists and traders.

Ogwang further warned that if city leaders continue to neglect public concerns while relying on government programmes such as USMID without delivering tangible services, voters could reject them in the 2031 elections.

Responding to the criticism, Lira City Council spokesperson Robert Okello Ayo acknowledged that several roads in the city are in poor condition.

He explained that some roads have already been handed over to construction company GULSAN for rehabilitation, while others are being addressed under the ongoing USMID infrastructure programme.

Okello said the Police Road–Margarita Palace Hotel section is being handled under the USMID project, while GULSAN is responsible for rehabilitating the road from Shell Petrol Station to Corner Kamdini and Iteso Bar.

Efforts by Radio Q FM to obtain a response from Lira City Mayor Sam Atul regarding the concerns raised by Ogwang Edola were unsuccessful by the time of publication.