Joseph Ayolo, Moroto – The District chairpersons from the Karamoja region have advised the President not to be easily pleased with the progress of government projects in the region as he plans his Parish Development Model tour.
Mr. Paul Lokol, the district chairperson of Nabilatuk District, said that while the President has been impressed with fish farming, chicken rearing, and milk production in Teso and Bukedi regions, the situation in Karamoja might be different.
According to Lokol, the Karimojong people prefer livestock rearing over other activities, but this sector has been negatively impacted by conflicts between the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture over projects.
“What we shall tell the President when he visits us in Karamoja is to help us harmonize the two ministries because the region has lost a lot due to their fighting over projects,” Lokol said. He noted that the Ministry of Water and Environment has little to show on the ground, apart from old dams constructed during the time when First Lady Janet Museveni served as Minister of Karamoja Affairs.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is more confused than the Ministry of Water because all the sites where the Ministry of Water had planned to construct dams, the Ministry of Agriculture rushed in and messed everything up,” he added. He pointed out that many of the projects under the Ministry of Agriculture have remained incomplete.
“Look at Nakonyen in Moroto; it has failed. They also came to Lorengedwat, but I stopped them, telling them, ‘Please don’t bring your curse to Nabilatuk,'” he said.
Jino Meri, the district chairperson of Kaabong, said the President needs to intervene in the two ministries if Karamoja is to attain development.
“They are given money to implement projects in Karamoja, but they end up fighting among themselves. Now their fighting has affected the household income of the Karimojong,” he said.
Rymond Angella, an elder, appealed to the President to constitute a team to investigate the activities of the Ministry of Water and the Ministry of Agriculture from 2017 to the present.
“The President will believe that we are not just playing the blame game, but presenting the reality on the ground,” he said.
