The Ministry of Local Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, has launched a 16.9-kilometre community access road in Otuke District under the National Oilseeds Project (NOSP).
The road, which connects Ogor village to Okore village in two sub-counties, is a significant milestone in enhancing oilseed value chain development and market accessibility.
The launch was officiated over by Otuke Woman MP, Hon. Susan Jolly Abeja, who expressed gratitude to the Government for selecting Otuke as a beneficiary under NOSP.
She noted that the road will eliminate middlemen, allowing farmers to link directly with buyers, thereby improving their livelihoods.
Government’s Commitment to Integrated Development
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, who was represented by Anthony Namara, the Commissioner for Local Economic Development, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrated development.
He stated that, “The project supports two critical pillars of the Parish Development Model: Production, Storage, Processing, and Marketing, and Infrastructure and Economic Services.”
Road Construction Details
Namara noted that the road, constructed by M/S GAT Consults Ltd for Shs1.63 billion, meets Class III District Road standards, with a 7.3-meter width and 100mm gravel thickness. It features 49 reinforced culvert lines and is expected to be completed by October 25, 2025.
National Oilseeds Project (NOSP) Overview
The National Oilseeds Project, jointly funded by IFAD, OFID, Heifer International, Kuehne Stiftung Foundation, and the Government of Uganda, aims to transform the oilseed sector through value chain development and market infrastructure. The project targets 2,500km of Community Access Roads across 81 districts.
Kicked off in July 2021, the NOSP is set to run until September 2028, covering 81 districts across 11 sub-regions. The project aims to transform the oilseed sector, including sunflower, soybean, sesame, and groundnuts
Community Engagement
To support the project further, community members have since provided land freely under the Free Prior Informed Consent model, and the road will be maintained by the Otuke District Local Government after handover.
The event drew a high number of participants, including NOSP technical teams, district officials, and community leaders.
As Uganda pushes forward with rural transformation, the launch of the Otuke road under the NOSP demonstrates the impact of integrated government programs like the Parish Development Model in yielding tangible results.