The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth, has directed the Ministry of Works and Transport to construct a 12-kilometre road at Mulwanda in Busia District to establish a third border connection between Uganda and Kenya.
The road, which will pass through Lumino Sub-county, is expected to ease congestion at the busy Busia and Malaba border crossings, reduce transport costs and facilitate cross-border trade between the two countries.
“I have heard elders, including Justice James Ogoola, asking for the construction of the 12-kilometre stretch at Mulwanda. I want to take this opportunity to direct the Ministry of Works to work on this road immediately to ease the movement of our people,” Oboth said.
He issued the directive on Saturday, October 10, 2026, while presiding over a thanksgiving ceremony for Julius Wandera Maganda, the Samia Bugwe South Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Works and Transport, at Butenge Primary School in Lunyo, Busia District.
The ceremony celebrated Maganda’s re-election as MP and his appointment to the ministerial position.
Oboth said residents in the region had repeatedly raised concerns about roads, railway development and other infrastructure needs that affect their livelihoods.
“As leaders from the same region, Honourable Maganda and I understand the aspirations of our people. Our communities continue to raise concerns about the condition of roads, railway development and other infrastructure needs that affect their daily lives,” he said.
He urged Maganda to ensure that the region’s infrastructure priorities receive government attention while acknowledging that the minister’s responsibilities extend beyond Busia.
“The appointment of one of our own to this important ministry naturally raises expectations. Honourable Maganda, I encourage you to ensure that the concerns of our region are brought to the attention of government and that our priority infrastructure needs receive due consideration within national plans and available resources,” Oboth said.
He added that Parliament would continue supporting infrastructure development and service delivery across the country through legislation, budgeting and oversight.
“While serving our region, we must also remember that your responsibility extends to the entire country,” he said.
In his remarks, Maganda acknowledged the responsibility that comes with his appointment and urged engineers from the Ministry of Works and Transport who attended the ceremony to expedite the construction of the road.
He said the Kenyan government had already completed its section of the road up to the border river at Mulwanda, leaving Uganda with a 12-kilometre stretch from Lumino to complete.
“The people are not asking for very expensive things. We are asking for a road, and if you do not have a tarmac road immediately, start with a murram road so that vehicles can start moving,” Maganda said.
He explained that the road would divert heavy commercial trucks from Busia town, easing congestion, reducing accidents and improving the movement of goods between the two countries.
The Governor of Busia County in Kenya, Paul Otuoma, said the operationalisation of the Mulwanda crossing would fulfil a longstanding aspiration shared by communities on both sides of the border.
Otuoma commended President William Ruto of Kenya and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, for their efforts to strengthen cross-border trade and cooperation.
He cited a memorandum of understanding signed under UN-Habitat to establish the Greater Busia Metropolis, as well as plans to extend the railway line from Naivasha in Kenya to Uganda, as initiatives that could strengthen regional integration.
“We urge the Ugandan government to complete the link because Uganda is our largest trading partner in this region,” Otuoma said.
Oboth congratulated Maganda on his re-election and ministerial appointment, describing them as important milestones that presented an opportunity for greater service.
“Your re-election reflects the trust the people have placed in you, while your appointment by His Excellency the President gives you an opportunity to contribute further to our country’s development,” he said.
He also urged residents of Samia Bugwe South and Busia District to continue supporting their leaders while holding them accountable.
“Development requires cooperation between leaders, government and the people. Honourable Maganda, yours is a call to greater service. Remain humble, accessible and committed to the needs of the people,” Oboth said.
The NRM national treasurer, Barbara Nekesa Oundo, who attended the ceremony, encouraged residents to improve household incomes through government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), the 4-Acre Model and Emyooga.
She appealed to Parliament to help ease financing requirements under Emyooga to enable young people with skills in carpentry and metal fabrication to access start-up capital.
Beyond infrastructure, Maganda outlined plans to boost agricultural production and household incomes in Samia Bugwe South.
He said he wanted the constituency to become a leading poultry-producing area in the region, with every village having a hatchery capable of hatching 5,000 eggs monthly.
The minister also announced plans to distribute four million coffee and cocoa seedlings, saying 200,000 seedlings were already available.
He urged households with half an acre or an acre of land to take up the seedlings and establish cash crops to generate additional income.
Maganda further announced plans to establish a Shs600 million Village Empowerment Seed Capital fund to support women in the constituency between 2027 and 2030.
“With Shs600 million, this Empowerment Seed Capital will cover the whole constituency from 2027 to 2030, and I want to inform all women here that I have already put Shs100 million in place for this cause,” he said.
Oboth pledged Shs20 million towards the fund.
The Speaker also urged leaders across the Bukedi region to convene ahead of national budget planning to identify shared priorities, address poverty and promote economic growth.
He encouraged residents to continue supporting their elected representatives, President Museveni and the NRM manifesto.
