Kapelebyong, Uganda – Cattle keepers in Odukul village in Kapelebyong district, Teso region, jubilated on Thursday after the Ministry completed the construction of a valley tank in the area.
The dam, opened for animals to drink water on Thursday, has been described as a great relief to cattle keepers who have faced difficulties pumping water from the few existing boreholes.
Moses Okurut, one of the cattle keepers, stated that their animals would now have access to clean water. “We have been facing a significant challenge with our animals, especially during the dry season. We struggled to pump water from the borehole, often fighting with others,” he said.
The system has the capacity to provide water to a total of 30,000 livestock and goats in the area.
Joel Ekelot, another cattle keeper, expressed concerns that the dam might be overstressed as more animals are likely to increase during the dry season.
Mr. Francis Akorikin, the District Chairperson of Kapelebyong, thanked the Ministry of Water for the dam but urged the inclusion of an irrigation component. “We need the irrigation component so that our people can grow vegetables to earn a living,” he emphasized.
It has been learned that the Ministry of Water and Environment has been credited for providing water for production in Karamoja and Teso.
