Poor roads cripple emergency healthcare services in Lango sub-region

9 September 2026, 9:21 am

By Felix Omara

The poor condition of roads has emerged as one of the major barriers to safe emergency healthcare services in the Lango sub-region, with health workers and local leaders saying some women in labour, accident victims and critically ill patients die before reaching healthcare facilities.

Lango sub-region faces severe infrastructure challenges, with one of the lowest levels of tarmac road coverage in Uganda, at roughly 5%.

The concern dominated the third Lango Regional Health Assembly held at Gracious Palace Hotel in Lira City, where district health officers, representatives from the Ministry of Health, partners and community leaders from the ten districts in Lango, including Lira City, convened to discuss interventions for equitable healthcare services in the region.

Presenting the regional emergency health report, Senior Executive Consultant at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Andrew Odur, said delays caused by impassable road networks within the sub-region have made timely referrals from Health Centre IIIs and IVs to Lira Regional Referral Hospital nearly impossible in several hard-to-reach areas.

Dr Odur said that although ambulances are available and ready, poor road conditions continue to delay the entire referral process.

The testimony reflected what many health workers described as a daily reality, saying a journey that should take 40 minutes to the referral hospital can take up to three hours.

Ambrose Agec, the LC5 Chairperson of Apac District, expressed frustration that recent prioritisation lists from the Ministry of Works and Transport omit vital regional routes such as Lira–Abim, Apac–Amolatar–Namasale and Aduku–Ogur–Awiodyek–Aromo, among others.

Addressing the assembly, Dr Charles Akiya Oyo, Commissioner for Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, called for immediate intervention by the Ministry of Works to ensure Lango has safe and motorable roads, although he noted that the challenge exists across the country.

He said road safety and emergency services are critical areas that require urgent attention, adding that a good road is the first doctor before anyone reaches a health facility.

Patrick Ogwang Obura, Chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group, acknowledged the Government’s efforts to develop the health sector but identified staff absenteeism, drug theft and ambulance maintenance, particularly the availability of fuel, as major setbacks that need to be addressed.