Heavy rains worsen road network in Pader

Pader, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  Heavy rains in parts of Pader district have worsened am already poor road network in the area leaving some of the roads nearly impassable for motorists.

Pajule Sub-county Chairperson Brilliant Tito Okello, who is also the Roads Committee chairperson says that many community access and district roads in his area have been heavily devastated by rains. The most affected include Pajule-Amoko lgwai and Acholi bur-lira roads.

According to Okello, the murram roads were already in a poor state owing to the effect of heavy trucks ladened with logs, charcoal and other merchandises, which use them as transit routes to various destinations. 

He says some of the roads are strategic for the locals in accessing markets and health facilities and urged the district to urgently intervene.

Martin Odoch, a resident of Ociga village in Pajule sub-county says heavy rains have rendered it impossible for motorcyclists to access Pajule Health Center IV, yet the alternate routes to the health facility are long and costly for residents 

The District Council Speaker Justine Ocen says efforts by the district engineering department to repair roads managed by the local government have been hampered by the continuous heavy rainfalls.

Ocen says road equipment that was dispatched to clear impassable roads between Otok, Ociga, via Oyuku in Pajule sub-county and Labokoloro, Jaka to Larego between Lapul and Laguti sub-counties are now lying idle due to heavy rains.

Ocen says the council has in the past voted that the district engineering department embarks on repairing roads during the dry season to ensure that the roads are good for use during the rainy season.

Ocen says that they are currently in touch with the Uganda National Roads Authority [UNRA] over the state of the Acholi-bur- Pajule to Lira Road that needs maintenance before its actual construction.

The Rwekunye-Masindi Port through Apac and Lira up to Acholi bur in Pader district measuring about 256 kilometres is set to be tarmacked by the government. The current rains have also been a curse to many agricultural ventures in the district that has left many farmers counting loses due to floods.

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