Heavy rainfall has washed away roads in Lamwo district rendering several parts of the district inaccessible. The most affected areas are Ayu Alali-Palabek, Palabek Kal-Levo and Lokung-Pangirtho-Ngomorom roads. The road stretch between Kitgum and Padibe is in a sorry state. Residents in the affected places have squarely put the blame of the poor roads on the district leadership. The residents accuse the district officials of awarding themselves tenders and doing shoddy work.
Charles Okema, a resident of Agoro trading centre says the situation is alarming. Okema notes that the short-cut between Agoro and Paloga sub-county is completely cut off. He says to access Paloga sub-county, they have to travel to Madi Opei and connect to Paloga. He appeals to the district authorities to work on the roads immediately.
Caroline Acan, a vegetable vendor in Malaba market in Kitgum town says they are losing a lot. Acan explains that they get most of the vegetables from Agaro Sub County but they cannot access the area because of bad road network. She says on two occasions, her tomato valued at over 600 thousand shillings perished in transit as the vehicle she was using to transport got stuck on the way.
She has also challenged the district to take immediate action and work on the roads. Between Lokung and Palabek Kal, Palabek Kal and Padibe West and several other parts, the situation is not even better. The LCIII Chairperson of Palabek Kal, James Otto blames the appalling road network on the contractors and the district engineering department.
Otto says the contractors do shoddy work and when they question them as sub-county leaders they are taken for granted. Otto says the contractors refuse to avail the sub-county leaders with contract documents which it difficult to monitor their work. He wants sub-county leaders to be part of the signatories to road works contracts to ensure contracts stick to the contract specifications.
//Cue in: “From Ayu Alal to…
Cue out: “…going to remain” //
Otto also advises the district leadership to engage in proper supervision to avoid shoddy work. Mathew Akia Okeny, Lamwo LC V chairman has admitted the problem of poor roads in the district. Akia says attempts are being made to patch up the destroyed roads to ease movement in the district.
He says that they have already launched repairs on some of the affected road, adding that the others will be sorted out soon. He has called for calm from residents as the district embarks on proper work on the affected roads;
//Cue in: “For the bad roads…
Cue out:…routine maintenance” //
However, his pleas have failed to convince a cross section of residents in the district. James Onen, a resident of Paloga sub-county says the district chairperson talks big but delivers little. He says several roads in Paloga have been in poor state for long time.
Onen says each time the issue is raised, the chairperson has been promising big but failed to fulfilled his pledges. David Ojok, an elderly man at Padibe Town Council says they have stayed near the district leaders for the last two years since Lamwo district became operational.
He says the leaders are known for promising big but fail to deliver on their promises. Without naming the leaders, Ojok says if the situation continues, he will mobilize his peers to demonstrate against the leadership.
