As the countdown to Uganda’s 2026 general elections begins, a different kind of campaign is gaining momentum in Lamwo District not from politicians, but from ordinary citizens who say they are tired of enduring empty promises. Their cry is to fix the roads.
From Padibe to Paloga, and Lokung to Lamwo town council, residents describe a worsening crisis of neglected, narrow, and severely eroded roads that are endangering lives, crippling small businesses, and deepening rural poverty.
Laker Winnie, a retired teacher in Atwol Parish, doesn’t mince words. “Every election cycle, they come here promising road improvements. But look at us we still carry the sick in wheelbarrows or pay boda-bodas triple just to reach a clinic when it rains.”
Okot Julius, a boda-boda rider in Paloga, shows the wounds on his legs. “I’ve been in multiple accidents dodging potholes. And I’m not alone. Many of us are spending everything on repairs instead of providing for our families.”
Before being scrapped, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) reported that more than half of Uganda’s road networks were unpaved, leaving rural districts like Lamwo cut off during rainy seasons.
Reduced national budget allocations from UGX 4.7 trillion to UGX 4.3 trillion in the financial year 2023/24 have only made things worse.
Roads initially built for bicycles now struggle to support ambulances, trucks, and motorcycles forcing residents to choose between braving dangerous routes or staying home.
Lamwo district leaders admit the challenge. Abalo Doris, Secretary for Works, said funding requests to the Ministry of Works have been made, but progress is hindered by bureaucracy and limited resources.
“The Road Fund helps, but it’s not enough. We need a stronger national push.”
Obonyo David, a humanitarian worker in Palabek Settlement, described tragic scenes. “We’ve lost mothers in labor who couldn’t reach a hospital in time. Roads are not just infrastructure—they are a matter of life and death.”
Women and children are especially vulnerable. Businesses are also bearing the brunt, with traders and farmers struggling to move goods to market.
Eng. Odongkara Yonah advocates for locally-led road maintenance initiatives and mainstreaming rural infrastructure into the Public Investment Plan (PIP). “We must move beyond patchwork repairs. Lamwo’s roads must be widened, drained, and regularly maintained.”
Citizens agree. “Involve us,” says Olanya Peter, a boda-boda rider in Lokung. “Let the community monitor and verify road works. No more ghost roads or inflated contracts.”
Lucy Aloyo, a resident of Padibe, believes civic awareness is key. “We must vote wisely. Leaders who ignore roads ignore our lives.”
Though some road works have begun under the AGIDP and Oilseed Project, residents say efforts are scattered and not focused on the most critical routes, like those linking Padibe to South Sudan via Ngomoromo.
As 2026 approaches, the message from Lamwo is clear: residents are no longer swayed by campaign slogans. They want evidence of change and they plan to vote accordingly.
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