Examining the impact of road infrastructure on social-economic development of people in Uganda: a case study of Soroti-Moroto road

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of road infrastructure on social-economic development of people in Uganda while using Soroti-Moroto road as a case study. The study was guided by objectives which included examining the social-economic contributions of the road, challenges caused by the construction and strategies to taken up to reduce the challenges caused by the construction of the road. The study used cross-sectional survey design, considered both qualitative and quantitative approaches on a sample size of 93 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guide. The study revealed that the construction of Soroti-Moroto road reduced the time spent traveling, opened up easy access to social entities such as markets, schools and hospitals, attracted investors and business persons. The road is motorable and has reduced vehicles operation costs but transport costs have not reduced and prices of produces have remained low and there is increased road accidents. The road has also failed to attract other service such as pipe water and electricity in most rural areas. Furthermore, the construction has caused a lot of social and environmental challenges. It was revealed that social services like water, roads, electricity, and health were interrupted. People lost their land; there were high noise and dust levels. The environment was polluted, drainage systems blocked, valuable vegetation lost and some wild animals killed due to the road construction. There is need to assist the displaced people to assess titled land, compensation for all properties destroyed, compensating people before relocate and giving them a fair relocation and start-up package. Furthermore, there is need to less pollutant machines, involving experts in assessing the impact of road construction, planting of trees and other vegetation along the constructed roads. The contractors need to regularly unblock the drainage system, put enough road signs and hampers to reduce on the accidents and traffic officers need to stop old vehicles from using the roads to reduce pollution.