Minister Namere Justin vowed Crackdown on corrupt constructors as Puranga- Ogonyo-Achola stream roads launched.
BY OKIDI PATRICK
PADER, UGANDA–State Minister for Local Government, Hon. Justine Namere, has warned contractors and public officials against corruption, saying the government will deal decisively with graft in this term.
While flagging off road works in Pader District on Thursday,16 July, 2026 Minister Namere said any contractor found manipulating records will be blacklisted and prosecuted.
“If you think you are going to play around with corruption, shoddy work, your company will never do any work with any government in Uganda. And as the faces behind such companies, you will be prosecuted,” she said.
She also advised civil servants and those in public offices to do the right thing.
The works are under the Rural Development for Food Security in Northern Uganda, a project funded by the German Government through KfW.
According to Pader District engineer, Eng. Benedict Lubang, the process started in 2023 and engineers together with the steering committee will commence work as soon as possible.
The project covers nine districts. In Acholi, the beneficiaries are Pader, Agago and Lamwo. The rest are in Lango and Teso sub-regions.
Under the road infrastructure and market component, 11 roads were selected in Pader but only three were prioritized:
1. Bolo – Agweng – Abyeba – Aruu Falls, 60 kilometers
2. Lapul Sub-county – Oweka – Bongtiko – Laguti, 25 kilometers for full rehabilitation
3. Achola – Ogonyo – Puranga.
Pader District LCV Chairperson Alfred Akena said the district has not received transport facilities for the works department in the last 15 years. He said the launch covered 19.4 kilometers and pledged to ensure value for money.
Mr. Akena also noted that Pader, which was curved out of Kitgum and became operational in December 2000, now has 5 town councils and 95 parishes. However, two parishes including Omoda, with 12 villages, are not gazetted and will not benefit from PDM or participate in LC1 elections. Ms. Namere promised to table the matter before Cabinet on Monday.
Other issues raised by LC5 Akena Alfred included the lack of a district hospital, low staffing at health centers in Awere HC IV, Lapul Ocwida and Okinga HC and more so, the need to tarmac the road from Puranga to Acholibur on the Apac – Rwekunye – Puranga route.
Aruu county MP Hon Komakech Christopher told the minister that funds for the ginnery had been squandered by some people and asked for investigations. Pader WMP Hon Lowila CD Oketayot was commended by the minister as the first MP who visited her office to consult on the issue of service delivery in Pader district.
Agago District Secretary for finance Alexander Okidi, who represented the Agago District Chairperson, attended the meeting as he stressed about looming famine in Agago.
Lamwo RDC William Komakech said there had been delays in project implementation. He called for coordinated information and proper BOQs from contractors, and said visibility studies must be done with community consultation.
The launch and ground breaking was held at Puranga Primary School. Other dignitaries who were present included Pader CAO Adong Susan, Deputy Agago RDC Susan Akot Moro, who represented the RDC Agago,Pader RDC, Deputy CAO Agago among others.
Hon.Namere also promised to request the Senior Minister to visit Pader, Lamwo and other areas in Acholi sub-region soon.
Apio .D, a 45-year-old resident of Puranga Sub-county while talking to tge media, also called for a probe into the Shs700 million Ludel irrigation project, saying it only has
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