Rains lay bare Lamwo’s crumbling roads despite shs1.5 billion allocation

Heavy rains pounding Northern Uganda have exposed the deteriorating state of Lamwo district’s road network, leaving several key routes badly damaged and disrupting transport, trade, and access to essential services.

Residents and road users say persistent potholes, flooding, and muddy stretches have turned major roads into near-impassable tracks, despite the district receiving more than shs1.5 billion for road maintenance in the 2025/2026 financial year.

Among the hardest-hit routes are the Padibe–Palabek Road, Kitgum–Palabek Road, and the Padibe–Madi Opei road through Paloga and motorists and pedestrians describe roads filled with stagnant water, deep potholes, and muddy sections where even livestock wallow, raising both safety and public health concerns.

Drivers, boda-boda riders, traders, and passengers say transport costs have sharply increased as vehicles frequently get stuck or avoid the roads altogether.

Okello Michael, a boda-boda rider operating along the Padibe–Palabek route said the road has become very dangerous during the rainy season

“Sometimes we spend hours pushing motorcycles out of the mud and passengers fear using the road, and our motorcycles are getting damaged almost every day,” he said.

Auma Janet, a trader who transports produce from Palabek to Padibe Market, said transporters now charge higher fees because of the poor road conditions and the poor roads are affecting business and limiting farmers’ access to markets.

“Sometimes vehicles refuse to reach some trading centres because they fear getting stuck and farmers are losing money because produce cannot easily reach markets,” she said.

The growing public frustration comes despite significant funding allocated to the district engineering department.

A report presented to Lamwo District Council by Joyce Oyella, Chairperson of the Works and Technical Services Committee, revealed that the district received shs1,553,372,874 for road works in the 2025/2026 financial year.

The funds include shs359 million from the Uganda Road Fund, shs750 million under the Road Maintenance Grant, shs299 million under the Conditional Development Grant, and shs143 million under the Unconditional Wage Grant.

According to the report, some projects have already been undertaken, including low-cost seal works on the Olebi-Pakalabule Road, rehabilitation of Kamama Central-Abam Road, Labworoyeng-Pager Road, and Lapidiyenyi-Larabi-Larobi Road, as well as maintenance of the Padibe-Mucwini Road.

However, residents argue that the improvements are not visible on some of the district’s most critical roads, especially during the rainy season when erosion and flooding worsen.

Ojara Bosco, a truck driver who frequently uses the Kitgum–Palabek Road, revealed that there are places where vehicles completely fail to pass when it rains heavily.

“Drivers are forced to park for hours waiting for water levels to reduce and this affects the delivery of goods and movement of people,” he said.

Road users warn that the poor transport network is affecting access to schools, health facilities, and markets, while also undermining humanitarian operations supporting refugees in Palabek Refugee Settlement.

District officials acknowledge the challenges but say the district lacks adequate funding and road-maintenance equipment to rehabilitate all damaged roads at once.

“Lamwo’s road network is large and costly to maintain and we continue to prioritize emergency works, but available resources and machinery are insufficient,” one district official said during a council sitting

Residents are now demanding greater accountability, emergency rehabilitation of the worst sections, and long-term investment in climate-resilient roads, proper drainage systems, and regular maintenance and without urgent intervention, many fear the worsening road conditions will continue to disrupt livelihoods and deepen economic hardship across the district.