Kole district leaders are at odds with a Chinese railway contractor over damage to local roads caused by heavy trucks transporting materials for the Tororo–Lira–Kole–Gulu railway.

The dispute escalated after a meeting agreed to inspect damaged roads, including the Ogwanga ber Nubi swamp crossing in Aboke, which had been cut off. Leaders showed two videos of three heavily loaded Sino trucks travelling on the roads.

The contractor denied using the roads, saying it had used only one of the 15 roads cited, and demanded video or photographic proof.

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Kole North leaders, led by LC5 chairman Eng. Oteng Moses and MP Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, clashed with the contractor at a meeting in Alito town council.

Attendees included LC3 chairpersons Pere Denis of Okwerodot, Obote Bernad of Alito and Okello Opio of Aboke, as well as project engineer Noah Waiswa.

The meeting followed Dr. Acuti’s October 29 address to Parliament, where he raised concerns that overloaded 30-tonne trucks carrying aggregate and ballast had damaged culverts and roads, created gullies and cut communities off from essential services.

Minister of State for Works and Transport Julius Maganda directed the railway project engineer to convene a meeting and arrange repairs.

District leaders said the contractor had used more than 15 roads, spanning over 113 km across Okwerodot, Alito and Aboke, and moved between routes when they became impassable.

They said this occurred without local leaders’ knowledge and that the contractor refused to repair damage caused by trucks exceeding permitted axle weights.

Engineer Waiswa and the contractor rejected responsibility, saying the evidence was insufficient. During an inspection, the team found aggregate dumped along the roads.

Residents confirmed the trucks had used the routes. The contractor disputed whether the material matched railway ballast, but the URC engineer later identified large particles at a swamp as railway aggregate.

The contractor still asked for time to verify its trucks had used the road, prompting leaders to demand a halt to work until the damage was addressed.

At a ballast stockpile, a contractor foreman confirmed materials were transported along district roads, further angering leaders.

LC5 chairman Oteng said residents blamed him for the poor roads, although heavy trucks beyond their load capacity had caused the damage.

Leaders then ordered the contractor to stop using Kole roads to transport materials. MP Acuti said they want the railway but also need usable roads. The contractor remained uncooperative.

Construction of the Tororo-Gulu railway began in Tororo in 2023 and has reached Kole district.

China Road and Bridge Construction (CRBC) took over the project after French company Sogea Satom abandoned it.