Apac District Engineer accused of hiring out government road equipment

23 October 2026, 5:04 pm

By Jacob Bakama Olara

Apac District Engineer Agastine Olal is facing scrutiny over allegations that government road construction equipment was hired out to private individuals without proper authorisation.

The allegations emerged during a meeting of the Apac District Roads Committee, which reviewed ongoing road works and set priorities for the new financial year.

During the meeting, concerns were raised over the district’s Caterpillar road construction machine, which was reportedly stationed at Acoge in Amun Parish, Apoi Sub-county, for about two months. Committee members questioned why the equipment had remained at the location while several district roads continued to deteriorate and required urgent rehabilitation.

Olal reportedly attributed the machine’s prolonged stay at Acoge to mechanical faults. However, the Secretary for Production, Marketing, Works and Technical Services, Hon. Joyce Akullu Adoko, challenged the explanation, alleging that the equipment was being hired out to private individuals.

Akullu accused the engineering department of mismanaging government equipment and questioned the delay in road maintenance, particularly on the Ayeng–Akuli road, which she said had not received the attention it required.

In his defence, Olal maintained that the Caterpillar machine belonged to the district and had experienced mechanical problems at different intervals. He distanced himself from the alleged hiring arrangements, saying that authorisation to hire out district equipment fell under the mandate of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Apac Resident District Commissioner Andrew Onyuk condemned the alleged unauthorised hiring of government equipment, emphasising the need for public resources to be managed responsibly and used for their intended purposes.

The Chief Administrative Officer, Emmy Ejuku Olaboro, said his office had not received any official communication regarding the alleged hiring out of the Caterpillar machine. He warned that anyone found responsible for the unauthorised use or misuse of government property would be held accountable.

The allegations have raised questions about the management of public road construction equipment, particularly as communities continue to rely on district authorities to maintain access roads and improve transport links to markets, health facilities and other essential services.

Government road equipment is intended to support public infrastructure development and maintenance. Any decision to hire out such machinery must therefore comply with applicable government procedures, receive the required authorisation and ensure accountability for any revenue generated.

Meanwhile, the District Roads Committee resolved to prioritise the rehabilitation of the Municipal Border–Olelpek–Awila road and other priority routes, using the Shs1 billion government allocation for road maintenance.

The planned works are expected to address some of the district’s road challenges. However, their impact will depend on the timely release and proper utilisation of funds, effective supervision and the availability of functional road equipment.

The committee’s deliberations come amid calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. However, the allegations against the District Engineer have not been independently verified, and any determination of wrongdoing will require appropriate investigation and due process.