Residents and leaders in Orom East Sub County in Kitgum district have expressed concerns over the delayed construction of Okuti International Border Market.
Okuti is one of the six border markets identified by the government in 2011 to be upgraded into international border markets. Others are Katuna in Kabale, Elegu in Amuru, Mutukula in Rakai, Malaba in Busia and Bwera in Kasese district.
The proposed development of an international market in the six districts was conceived by the Common Market for East and Southern African (COMESA) policy to promote regional trade.
In 2014, 18 clans in Kitgum offered 100.05 hectares of land at the Uganda border with South Sudan, for the construction of an international border market by the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives.
However, years after, the site for the market is abandoned. There is no access road or any public facility like schools and health units.
Alexis Opoka, the vice-chairperson of LCIII Chairperson Orom East, says that there is a need to first open a road to the site, set up schools and a health facility, and drill boreholes.
Florence Lamunu, a resident of Akilok Central in Orom East, Bosco Otim, says the government should start by installing a telephone network in the area, to improve communication.
Lamunu says since the area is at the border with Karamoja and South Sudan, they are frequently attacked by rustlers and struggle to call for help from security personnel because there is no telephone network.
Ronald Komakech, the LCV Councilor Kiteny Sub County in Kitgum district, who is also a member of the committee for production, marketing, and natural resources, notes that they have also been concerned about inactivity at the border market site.
Komakech says an access road to the market has not yet been approved by the government. He however notes that the committee of production, marketing, and natural resources has resolved to open an access road and build structures so that the locals start using the market as they wait for funds from the government.
Matthew Otto, the senior land management officer in Kitgum district, notes that work on the market site was delayed because of suspicion by the locals. He explains that when the locals were mobilized to go to the site, they considered the idea crazy and asked how they could go to an empty land to do business.
According to Otto, Okuti International Border Market will help open Uganda’s borders to the greater horn of Africa, while the immediate benefit to the district will be the revenue collected from those who will get lease titles.
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