Pader town’s equipment breakdown sparks environmental crisis, public outcry

29 November 2025, 20:02

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

Pader Town Council is grappling with a worsening waste management crisis, caused not by a complete suspension of garbage collection, but by a year of unreliable and inconsistent service delivery.

The town’s only garbage tractor has been grounded for more than a year at Toka Automotive Garage, forcing the council to rely entirely on a district truck whose support is often delayed.

The situation has prompted mounting frustration among residents and heightened concerns about the town’s environmental health.

According to Kilama Fearless Wodacholi, the Urban Council III Chairperson, the breakdown of the town’s tractor has severely disrupted the garbage collection schedule, which is meant to take place every Tuesday and Friday.

“Taxpayers must be served,” he emphasised. “People pay revenue to the town council, and it is our responsibility to keep the environment clean. We cannot blame residents when garbage remains uncollected for days because the district lorry delays.”

Wodacholi explained that although garbage collection has not completely stopped, it has become highly unpredictable.

The district truck often arrives late, sometimes misses scheduled days altogether, and leaves large amounts of waste unattended in the streets, drainage channels, and commercial areas.

He also pointed to “signals of corruption” within the Town Council Authority that may have contributed to the prolonged failure to repair the tractor.

“These issues will be fully addressed upon my return to office,” he vowed.

He added that during a recent monitoring visit, his team discovered broader service delivery challenges, including poor road maintenance, inadequate urban greening, blocked drainage channels, and non-functional streetlights.

“The town is our home and our identity,” he said. “All stakeholders must work together to ensure a clean and healthy environment.”

The Principal Town Clerk, Mark Lamson Okello, also stressed that waste management is a shared responsibility between the council and the residents.

“Unnecessary dumping is taking place, especially by individuals who scavenge through rubbish for survival,” he said. “Even when the district truck comes, some residents fail to put out their waste properly.”

He reassured the public that the council’s tractor would soon be repaired and that a new, reliable collection schedule would be announced.

Despite these assurances, residents say the situation continues to deteriorate. Auma Collins Hope, a businesswoman in Pader Town Council, said she has resorted to burning her rubbish, especially lightweight litter that is easily blown away by the wind.

“The tractor has taken too long to be repaired,” she noted. “The council should consider hiring people to gather scattered litter. Burning waste affects the soil and the environment, but many of us have no alternative.”

In places such as Luna Parish, the problem is even more visible. Resident Akera Patrick described some streets as “extremely dirty and congested with rubbish.” He said certain areas are so littered that “you may not even see a friend on the other side of the road.”

He called for clearing overgrown areas, improving garbage collection, and restoring the town’s appearance.

The ongoing crisis highlights the delicate balance between leadership, community cooperation, and environmental protection.

As Pader Town awaits the long-delayed repair of its tractor and more consistent support from the district, one message remains clear: protecting the town’s environment requires urgent action, accountability, and collaboration.

Without these, waste management challenges will continue to threaten both the town’s reputation and the health of its residents.