Nebbi–Arua Road: A deadly trap and haven for thugs

West Nile: Traveling along the 76-kilometer Nebbi–Arua road has become a nightmare for motorists and pedestrians alike.

Once a vital and passable route, the road is now riddled with deep potholes, collapsed culverts, and severe erosion.

In addition to the deteriorating infrastructure, the route has become a hotbed for criminal activity, turning it into a dangerous passageway.

Ayikoyo Malon Maluta, a resident of Bongova village in Ajia Subcounty and boda boda operator at the Dubai Stage in Ocoko Trading Centre, has witnessed numerous accidents, many of which he says are intentionally caused by criminals.

“From Enzeva to Kuluva, accidents happen almost daily. Thugs use potholes to stage accidents and rob motorcycles and other valuables from travelers,” Malon said. “Just last month, a tragic accident in Kuluva claimed several lives. I wonder whether we have leaders truly representing us.”

Malon added that it’s now common to see broken-down vehicles near Dreamland Hotel, and many road users have started abandoning the main road in favor of alternative routes due to its poor condition.

Robert Adriko, a resident of Ocoko Trading Centre, says the fear of nighttime ambushes by criminals has made it nearly impossible to transport patients to hospitals in emergencies.

“Sick people are dying in the villages because we can’t risk taking them to hospital at night. Thugs attack us, steal motorcycles, and sometimes kill us,” Adriko revealed.

Truck drivers, who once took just an hour to travel from Nebbi to Arua, now spend up to seven hours on the same route.

Balam Ganyoka, a truck driver from Arua to Kampala, says they frequently lose merchandise to robbers who exploit slow-moving vehicles stuck in potholes.

“They target us in hilly areas like Enzeva. While we’re stuck, they open the trucks and steal items like rice, cassava flour, and baking flour. Our customers suffer, and we’ve even started carrying sticks for protection,” Ganyoka said.

For pedestrians like Ajidru Molly from Enzeva village, the road conditions have forced them to forge new footpaths through the bush just to avoid being hit by vehicles.

“I was nearly knocked down by a vehicle trying to navigate potholes. As a pregnant woman, it’s painful and dangerous to travel for antenatal services using a boda boda,” she said, calling on the government to urgently fix the road.

Constructed between 2003 and 2005, the Nebbi–Arua road was once seen as a key trade corridor connecting Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Today, it’s marked by tragedy and fear.

On June 2, 2025, a Nile Star bus (Reg. UDB 216R) caught fire in Uleppi Subcounty en route to Kampala, destroying property worth millions.

On May 16, 2025, a  yellow Scania (Reg. UBD 852W) collided with a drone vehicle in Kuluva, killing several passengers.

Additionlly, on May 12, 2025, a gang of boys threw stones at a Nile Star bus in Enzeva, taking advantage of vehicles slowed down by potholes. One suspect was apprehended by passengers.

Residents had hoped the road would be prioritized in the 2025/26 national budget. However, disappointment followed as the road was not listed among government infrastructure priorities.

Arua Central Division MP, Hon. Jackson Atima Lee Buti, offered some reassurance, stating that the issue has been raised on the floor of Parliament.

“Government is aware of the road’s condition. The delay was due to reluctance by UNRA at the time, but we’ve advocated strongly in all forums. We are confident it will be worked on,” he said, urging locals to remain calm as government efforts unfold.

The Nebbi–Arua road has gone from a key regional connector to a corridor of chaos. Until tangible action is taken, lives will continue to be lost, businesses will suffer, and fear will dominate what should be a simple journey.

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