Moses Mudong, Karamoja – As President Museveni is scheduled to visit Karamoja to monitor the Parish Model development, political and opinion leaders across the region have compiled a list of non-existent projects for which the government allocated funds, but which were never constructed.
Among the listed projects is the “ghost” Magamaga dam in Magamaga Sub-county, Abim District. This dam was supposed to be constructed and supervised by the Ministry of Water and Environment, but it was never completed, and funds were allegedly misappropriated by the supervisors, led by known engineers, whose names will be revealed in a subsequent article. The dam was said to have cost taxpayers approximately Shs 3 billion. It was intended to help farmers with mini-irrigation.
Another uncompleted project is a dam in Morungole, Kaabong District. This project was under the Ministry of Agriculture, and despite the government paying around Shs 6 billion to a Chinese company, Zhoguho, the contractor abandoned the work, citing insecurity in the region.
The Nakonyen dam in Moroto is another case. Also under the Ministry of Agriculture, the project cost Shs 14 billion, yet no dam exists, despite engineers from the Ministry clearing the site.
In Kosike, Amudat District, a dam under the Ministry of Agriculture has been left incomplete for over two years, despite money being paid for the project.
Mr. Jino Meri, the Kaabong District Chairperson, stated that President Museveni needs to task the two ministries with showing accountability for the money allocated to Karamoja projects.
“It’s a shame that these two ministries continue to receive billions of shillings for Karamoja, but nothing is being implemented in the region,” he said.
He added that the Uwaske dam under the Ministry of Water and Environment for water for production has been abandoned for four years, despite the ministry using force accounts for the works. He further noted that the rehabilitation of other dams by the Ministry of Water in the district has also failed, even though billions of shillings were allocated.
Mr. Paul Lokol, the Nabilatuk District Chairperson, said the president should start by arresting engineers from the Ministry of Water and those from the Ministry of Agriculture for their negligence towards the people of Karamoja.
“We can’t continue blaming the NRM for not delivering, yet these engineers from the two ministries are the ones causing all these issues,” he said.
According to Mr. Lokol, the Ministry of Water, which was once vibrant in 2007, has since become riddled with corruption, with no significant work being done on the ground.
He added that Nabilatuk has never received a dam, despite the president’s directive for every district to receive a multipurpose dam.
“My President, please help us and deal with these engineers from the Ministry of Water and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, the same way you dealt with the corrupt former Karamoja ministers who stole our iron sheets,” he said.
This publication has learned that many development partners are now shunning funding the two ministries due to alleged poor accountability.
