Ambako fault Pader engineers over poor road works
“I have been telling the engineers to deepen the hole so that the road can be properly leveled when covered, but they insist that this is their technical design,” Opiyo said.
Pader: Lt. Col (rtd) Ambako Kibrai, the senior presidential adviser on mobilisation at RDC secretariat have shared the same sentiment with Residents across Pader District who have sharply criticized the district engineering department over what they describe as shoddy roadworks and persistent neglect of critical road infrastructure, saying the situation is hindering access to essential services and threatening public safety.
The concerns have been raised at several locations, including Ogagu Bridge in Ogom Sub-county, where part of the bridge has been washed away.
Residents also point to a large gully on the approach road that remains unfilled, making passage difficult and dangerous.
Other hotspots drawing criticism include Lajwiny Culvert in Lagwayi Parish and two culvert installations at Palenga Aywee in Pajule sub-county.
At Lajwiny, residents accuse district engineers of improperly installing a culvert by placing it in a shallow trench that leaves it protruding above the road surface.
Community members fear the design will create long-term accessibility problems even after gravel is added.
The culvert, located near the home of the LCI Chairperson of Lajwiny Village, has become one of the most complained-about road projects in the area.
LCI Chairperson Alex Opiyo said he repeatedly advised engineers to deepen the trench before laying the culvert to ensure the road surface remains level after construction.
“I have been telling the engineers to deepen the hole so that the road can be properly leveled when covered, but they insist that this is their technical design,” Opiyo said.
He added that he has traveled to other districts and has never seen a culvert installed in a similar manner.
At Palenga Aywee Trading Centre, residents have also questioned the design of a culvert installed at a road junction.
According to community members, road users traveling from Oryanga Health Centre II towards Pajule are unable to comfortably cross the raised structure.
Motorcyclists and cyclists have reportedly begun bypassing the road section and using nearby community paths to avoid the culvert, which some residents describe as “higher than a speed hump.”
Frustrated residents warned that if the district fails to redesign the structures, they may remove them and resort to local solutions such as laying logs and timber to facilitate safer crossings.
However, Pader District Engineer Benedict Lubang defended the installations, insisting that the culverts were constructed according to approved technical specifications.
“The culverts were not laid by mistake. They follow our technical design,” Lubang said.
He explained that the structures were intentionally designed to remain slightly raised above the road surface as a measure to regulate vehicle speed.
“If the culverts were completely flat, road users would drive faster. The design helps control speed and encourages motorists to maintain the recommended speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour,” he said.
Regarding the Palenga Aywee junction, Lubang said the design also helps control water runoff and prevents erosion of the road surface.
His explanation, however, failed to convince many residents, some of whom questioned the engineering justification behind the works.
Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Ambako Kibrai, Senior Presidential Advisor on Mobilization attached to the RDC Secretariat, also weighed in on the matter while monitoring government projects in the region.
His work focuses on poverty eradication, anti-corruption efforts, and service delivery.
Kibrai criticized what he described as the tendency of technical officers to defend mistakes instead of addressing public concerns.
“Across the country, whenever technical staff make mistakes, they often try to defend themselves on technical grounds that are not convincing,” he said.
He directed the district engineering department to inspect and rectify all road sections that have attracted complaints from the public.
“It is the community that uses these roads. When they are complaining, it is not right to ignore them. Why don’t you want to listen to them?” Kibrai asked.
Residents say the affected roads are vital for transporting patients to health facilities and moving agricultural produce to markets in Pader Town.
They argue that raised culverts and deteriorating road conditions make it difficult for motorcycles and bicycles carrying heavy loads to pass safely.
Pader District maintains approximately 320 kilometers of community access roads serving several sub-counties.
Residents are now calling for urgent intervention to improve road standards and restore confidence in the district’s infrastructure projects.
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