“Repair Our Roads or Lose Our Votes”: Pader and Agago Voters Issue Ultimatum to 2026 Political Candidates

By Atek Jolly Piloya

PADER/AGAGO, UGANDA – Voters across the Pader and Agago districts have issued an unprecedented ultimatum to all political candidates seeking office in the upcoming 2026 general elections: utilize your personal campaign budgets immediately to repair the severely dilapidated roads, or forfeit community support at the ballot box.

With candidates set to officially launch their campaigns starting November 10, 2026, many residents say the current state of infrastructure is so poor that it renders travel nearly impossible, jeopardizing candidates’ ability to even physically access their constituents.

The central demand from the community is clear: demonstrate capability and commitment through immediate tangible action, rather than just written manifestos.

“If you are fully nominated, don’t give us your money, but fix the bad path on the road,” stated a resident in Agengo Sub-County. “We have two factors: your manifesto and maintaining the roads. Any leader who wants to campaign here should prepare to repair the road from Agengo to Acuru trading centre.”

Impassable Roads Stifle Commerce
The demand is fueled by months of heavy rain which have rendered key commercial and travel arteries impassable, isolating local markets and threatening livelihoods.

Speaking from Oliga market in Patongo town council, a businesswoman lamented the dire situation on the Adilang-Patongo road, particularly at the notorious Wiladere stream.

“The bad spot is now unbearable. The business community is unable to reach Makathin market in Abim district,” she explained. “If candidates do not repair the road, we will not push their stuck vehicles, and we certainly will not vote for them.”

Voters estimate that simple intervention using campaign resources could solve the problem immediately.

“Why can’t they hire private graders at 5 or 10 million [Ugandan shillings] and repair our bad roads?” questioned a prominent resident. “They cannot fail to hire a private grader and wheel loader at 10 million to repair our roads.”

Specific Repair Mandates
The voters have identified a list of critical road segments that must be addressed immediately by hopeful candidates across the East Acholi districts:

1:Adilang-Lamiyo
2:Patongo-Kalongo
3:Acuru-Agengo
4:Patongo to Corner Adwari
and Corner Kilak to Pader Town.
In Corner Kilak, a local businessman warned that the road to Pader town is now completely impassable. He specifically advised candidates travelling toward Puranga, Rackoko, and Arum to be prepared to use their personal funds to fix the dangerous stretch around “Wikom” stream, or prepare to physically push their own campaign vehicles.

Similar complaints highlight critical failure points on the Corner Kilak-Pajule road, the Pajule-Acholibur road, and the Pajule to Pagwari spot, which are now almost cut off by the heavy rains.

Political observers and community figures warn that the infrastructure crisis poses a serious threat to ips and LCV local Councils 5 including incumbent leaders and ambitious newcomers alike.

There is a growing consensus among residents that approximately 50 percent of elected leaders including MPs may risk losing the upcoming election in parts of East Acholi if they fail to address the road conditions before the campaign season fully commences on the 10th November 2026.

The overwhelming message from Pader and Agago is a shift from traditional electoral promises to demanding verifiable proof of delivery, making the state of the roads the primary litmus test for political viability in the 2026 contest.