Oyam, Uganda – The ongoing road maintenance project connecting Oyam Town Council to Acaba Sub-county via Abee Ibuti Swamp has made significant progress, with completion now at 97%.
However, the project recently faced an unexpected challenge when a group of laborers demanded full payment before completing their work.
The initiative, spearheaded by Hon. Santa Alum Ogwang aims to improve road accessibility in the district.
During the initial assessment, Eng. George Okite Okeng, the District Engineer, advised that the swampy section of the road was inaccessible to heavy road maintenance machinery.
He recommended that the site first be cleared manually before deploying graders and rollers.
In response, Chris Ongom, Political Assistant to MP Santa Alum Ogwang, tasked Jimmy Okello, a well-known road excavation expert, with mobilizing a team of laborers to manually dig through the swamp.
The work, which began on March 17, 2025, was expected to last a week but was extended due to unforeseen technical challenges.
As the work neared completion, a dispute arose when laborers, led by Morrish Ojok, demanded full payment of their wages, totalling approximately UGX 1.5 million, before the final phase of the project.
Some workers accused the stakeholders of delaying their payment, creating tensions at the site.
To de-escalate the situation, Chris Ongom personally delivered the full wage payment yesterday, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and reassured the workers that their efforts were highly appreciated.
He expressed no resentment over their frustrations but rather gratitude for their contribution to the project.
Despite the setback, the project is expected to be fully completed within days, as the final touches involve grading and levelling the road for smooth accessibility.
Jimmy Okello, the site supervisor, assured the laborers that their payments would be fully settled once the work reaches 100% completion.
On behalf of the workers, Morrish Ojok issued an apology for their emotional reaction and instead commended MP Santa Alum Ogwang for providing employment opportunities during challenging economic times.
He also praised her commitment to road infrastructure, which is crucial for improving trade, transport, and service delivery in Oyam District.
With the final phase now in motion, the residents of Oyam can anticipate a more reliable and accessible road network, reinforcing the district’s development agenda and economic progress.
