$\Omega$-Results for Exponential Sums Related to Maass Cusp Forms for $\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathbb Z)$

We obtain $\Omega$-results for linear exponential sums with rational additive twists of small prime denominators weighted by Hecke eigenvalues of Maass cusp forms for the group $\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathbb Z)$. In particular, our $\Omega$-results match the expected conjectural upper bounds when the denominator of the twist is sufficiently small compared to the length of the sum. Non-trivial $\Omega$-results for sums over short segments are also obtained. Along the way we produce lower bounds for mean squares of the exponential sums in question and also improve the best known upper bound for these sums in some ranges of parameters.