By Robert Ariaka

It is a big business centre and regional hub for South Sudan and most of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Arua district is the oldest and one of the nine districts that make up the West Nile region.

The other districts include: Nebbi, Moyo, Adjumani, Yumbe, Koboko, Maracha, Zombo and Pachwach. Two new districts of Terego and ������������� ������� ��

HistoryWest Nile was the second last region to be added to Uganda. Karamoja followed in 1922. Right from its inception, West Nile was a multi-ethnic district, consisting of four ethnic groups – Lugbara, Alur, Madi and Kakwa.

On January 1, 1914, the colonial government transferred the southern part of the former Lado enclave from the Anglo-Egyptian ruled Sudan condominium to Uganda.

The source of River Nile was one key reason the British government convinced Belgium to carve West Nile and make it part of Uganda. But the name West Nile was approved in May 1914, after the suggestion by ����������������������� ������������be called Bahr-el-Gebel was turned down by the governor, according to Mark Leopold, quoting information from the Uganda National Archives in his book Inside West Nile.

In the same year, the colonial administration discussed township on the current Arua municipality and made it the centre of administration for the new district.

Arua district has a total population of 782,077 people, according to the 2014 National Population and Housing Census. More pressure has been added with the refugee population.

Old as it is, Arua municipality is steadily emerging as a premier investment destination and centre

22 NEW VISION, LIBERATION DAYFriday, January 26, 2018

Welcome to Arua, the pride of

for business, education and tourism, sustained by rich cultures and conducive weather.

It is a cosmopolitan town thriving with trade due to its strategic ���� ������ ������ ��� �����Uganda, South Sudan and eastern DRC; having dozens of high rise residential buildings, hotels and towering shopping centres.

The town has kept its traditional Lugbara cone-shaped grass-thatched houses in some villages, presenting an interesting blend of both the past and the present.

Redevelopment Arua town has gone through rapid redevelopment after the end of instability in the region, that came with the 2003 signing of a peace deal between the Government and the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF II) rebel group.

The peace in the region enabled the development of a mixture of

supermarkets and groceries along Main Avenue Road and other lanes stocked to capacity with local goods made from the region, alongside Asian, European and South African products.

Commercial banks and other � � ����� ������� ����������reaping big from this boom, as they dash to have accounts of as many businessmen as possible.

The latest entrants are Equity Bank, KCB, Diamond Trust Bank, Housing Finance and Orient Bank. ����� ������ ������� ���� ���Barclays Bank, Bank of Africa, dfcu Bank, Stanbic, Centenary and Postbank.

To accommodate the increasing population of workers and visitors pouring into the area, the number of shopping centres such as Orasia, Vino Lounge complex, KCB building on Adumi Road, KKT Centre on Go-down Road and OB-Plazer were established

by the local business people.Hotels such as Hill Top,

Desert Breeze, White Castle, Golden Courts, Heritage Courts, Slumberland, Tropical suites, Eripark, Rose Villa, Prince Palace, Park Villa, White House, Lois, Delambiance, California, ����������� ��������������!����alongside the lodging outlets, have provided comfort for the people.

The hotels have now been "�����#������������� ��$���the South Sudanese refugees, after the war broke out again in 2015, forcing several Ugandan nationals and South Sudanese to pour into Uganda seeking refuge.

Staff working with various humanitarian organisations have booked most of the hotels. The Liberation Day celebrations have been affected by inadequate accommodation for different dignitaries.

Business hubCharles Asiki, the former mayor Arua municipality who served for 10 years from 2006 to 2016, says the town is now a regional centre for business, education, recreation and tourism.

He cites the completion of the Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba Road, the construction of Muni University, alongside other universities such as Arua Technical Institute Ragem, Islamic University in Uganda, Uganda Christian University, Bugema and the planned upgrade �������������� ��� �� ��� ��� ��airport that have boosted the development of the town.

Other roads in the town that have given the district a facelift include the two-way Enyau Road, Idi Amin Road, Lemerijoa Road, the cathedral roads of Ediofe and Emmanuel.

Asiki says the impact of this rapid growth can be seen by the town expanding beyond its borders. This means that people are making money and investing it well. He believes there is still untapped business potential in the district because of the market from South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, whose cities are far from the locals.

On the issue of education, Asiki said Muni Public University has failed to tap an opportunity in introducing the teaching of French and Arabic, which would attract a huge number of students from the war-ravaged countries of South Sudan and DR Congo.

Electricity Asiki noted that with electricity supply stabilising, welders and metal fabricators are now the happiest people in town. The only fruit factory established by Emmanuel Ajedra with government funding has remained non-operational, forcing many farmers to waste their fruits from mango and other trees.

The people have managed to use their hard-earned money to

NEBBI

Okollo

Bondo Barracks

MADI-OKOLLO

MARACHA

Bondo Barracks

VURRA MADI-OKOLLO

AYIVU

TEREGO

Maracha

Rhino CampARUA

MARACHA

KOBOKO

D.R.CONGO

Arua Airport

St. Joseph’s College Ombaci/Ombaci Catholic Mission

Abi farm

ARUA TOWN

West Nile Golf Club

MVARA

OREKO

WANDI

Kaya Hway

Adumi Rd

Kaya Hway

Rhino

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Rhino

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p Rd

Anya

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International boundaryDistrict boundaryCounty boundaryRoadsDistrict headquartersTrading centre

Location map showing Arua

KKT Centre shopping mall in Arua town

NEW VISION, 23LIBERATION DAY Friday, January 26, 2018

West Nile regiondevelop the town and Asiki says, forming strong business organisations would help boost the progress of the town. He appeals to bodies like Chamber of Commerce to come in and unite business people for a strong and collective progress in business.

He commended the local businessmen for demonstrating their potential in the booming transport industry with the best bus companies known countrywide. The bus companies such as California, Gaagaa, KKT, Nile Coach, all owned by the local businessmen in the region, have boosted the transport industry and promoted local economy.

He challenged people to change their negative attitude towards development to ensure they join hands and develop the town to achieve a city status. On leadership, Asiki said a district or town will only thrive when its leaders are educated, empowered and exposed to the outside world. He challenged the current leaders from the local level to the top to ensure they follow the city issue as demanded.

The key requirements Asiki highlighted to get the city status are the upgrade of ������������� ��� ����%����the Arua main market construction, the taxi park, the presence of Muni University, the already constructed Vurra-Arua-Koboko-Oraba road, and the roads within the town. The most enjoyable road Arua has ever had is Enyau Road with two lanes constructed under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development.

����� ��$���&���&��� ����organisations is based on

the strategic location of Arua in the neighbourhood of lucrative markets of South Sudan and DR Congo. This is why foreign exchange companies such as Dahabshill, Arua Forex and Shimuk are there to facilitate forex, especially for cross-border travellers.

Many people have continued to conduct unregistered businesses in the town. Whether it is bananas, cassava, mangoes or honey; sugar, cosmetics or footwear, the hawkers compete with their counterparts in the lockups and shops.

Ongoing projectsThe ongoing construction of the taxi park and the yet to be constructed Arua Main market under MATIP

II project will boost the transport industry and boost trade.

At Gaagaa Market along Go-down Road, energetic young craftsmen, blacksmiths and bicycle mechanics tap money from customers to make ends meet. The town won an award of being the second best organised in Africa

To streamline the transformation of the town, the municipal council has come up with a plan for the

Nile eco-city that will cover the present Barifa forest once it is degazetted, which is still pending in Parliament.

Another booming business is the petrol station companies with over 20 petrol stations already established in different parts of Arua.

Alongside the petrol is an interesting business of an ���������'#���*����������has found a lucrative market in Arua. It was imported from China.

The town has also

tremendously grown via educational institutions such as Muni University, Muni NTC, Arua Core PTC, and Arua Technical Institute Ragem. Secondary schools such as Muni Girls, Ombaci, Mvara, Usindi Arua Public Vurra, Ediofe Girls and Logiri Girls have boosted education in the district and the region.

Skilling programme Amablis Kiremnga, the principal Arua Technical Institute Ragem, said the institution has skilled a huge number of youth who have &�� ��&�������� ������&�market.

����� ������� ����������*�taken by government in 1990 and gradually developed with modern equipment venturing in building and concrete practice, metal works and fabrication, electrical installation, weaving and knitting, among other skills. Kiremnga said government

needs to elevate the institution to award diplomas and degrees for the region which has a huge potential for skills development.

The recently renovation of Arua Hospital complex adds to the number of health centres such as Kuluva Mission Hospital, Oli Health Centre IV, Adumi Health Centre, Omugo Health Centre IV, plus other lower health units alongside private health facilities.

ARUA WON A CONTINENTAL AWARD FOR BEING THE SECOND BEST WELL-PLANNED TOWN IN AFRICA

The new terminal building at Arua airport

A snap shot of Arua town central business area

Produce being sold in Arua Main Agro-market

������������ ��������walkway of Avenue Road

Arua district is today hosting the 32nd Liberation Day anniversary. Robert Ariaka sought out views of some residents on what ���������������������Yoweri Museveni, who is the chief guest, to address

What Arua expects from the President

Dickson Adomati,councillor Arua Hill DivisionThe President should address the issue of connecting West Nile to the national Power grid.

Hassan Odriga, watchman in AruaThe President should address the issue of education.

Zaitun Candiru,Woman Councillor Arua Municipality Arua is a district with a huge population and deserves a city status. We hope he will fulfil his promise of sh500m he made for the West Nile Effort for Museveni, an NRM group supporting the NRM party.

Salama BakoMany girls and women are on the streets because of lack of jobs and support. The President should address issues of street girls who indulge in prostitution by providing them with financial support.