Obongi District — The Resident District Commissioner’s office in Obongi district, located in the West Nile sub-region, has intervened in a case where residents are complaining bitterly about a modern motorboat bought by Obongi district for over 60 million shillings. The boat has been abandoned in the River Nile since 2020.
According to a petition, Obongi District Local Government (DLG) received over 60 million shillings as start-up capital to purchase the boat, intended for enforcing good fishing practices on the River Nile and for monitoring purposes.
Obongi RDC, Mr. Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, and ARDC, Ms. Umuhoza Habiba Furaha, visited the River Nile near the Obongi landing site on Friday, where they found the abandoned fiberglass motorboat in a dilapidated condition.
Some officials at the landing site informed the RDC and ARDC that it is a shame that the expensive boat has not served its intended purpose since 2020 and is now leaking due to neglect.
They said they had made several complaints to the district about the neglect, but their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
RDC Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka promised action against the neglected boat and an investigation into the matter.
The Obongi district chairman was unable to comment on the issue, as his phone went unanswered several times at the time of compiling this report.
The RDC has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.
