MOROTO, Uganda – In 2023, the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, released over Shs 14 billion for the construction of a multipurpose dam in the Nakonyen grazing area in Moroto District.
The release of this money for the dam was aimed at addressing water shortages for animals from three neighbouring districts. The work commenced amidst protests from locals who said their gardens were destroyed without consultation.
District leaders from the three districts, however, sat and convinced the community to embrace the project. The community later accepted; however, the project has failed to be completed.
The pipes that were procured for the dam have since been abandoned at the site.
Mzee Aramtori Kiyonga wondered who will be held responsible since the dam has failed to be completed, yet the money has been eaten.
“Is this why the same people say they can’t wait for Karamoja to develop, yet they are the ones eating money meant to create impact in the community?” he said.
John Louse, another pastoralist, called for a special probe into the failed Nakonyen project.
“The level of corruption in the Ministry of Agriculture needs to be thoroughly investigated because the money could have been eaten,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nabilatuk locals are also crying out over Shs 2 billion that was meant for the construction of a piped water system but has failed.
According to locals, in the financial year 2020–2021, the Ministry of Water and Environment released about Shs 2 billion to Nabilatuk District to construct clean piped water systems for four trading centres; however, all four systems have failed to work.
The systems are located in areas such as Lorengedwat Sub-county, Natapar Arengan, Natapar Akwangan, and Nabilatuk Town Council.
A visit by this publication to one of the sites in Lorengedwat noted that armed cattle rustlers now take advantage of the constructed tank, where they climb up and hide inside as they survey areas to raid.
Peter Lokut, a resident of Lorengedwat Sub-county, said the water tank in the area was just a monument, adding that it has never worked since it was installed.
“Let the State House Anti-Corruption Unit come and check on this water project, because we are aware the money was eaten,” he said.
Paul Lokol, the District Chairperson of Nabilatuk District, said it was shocking to note that all four sites are not working.
“I have asked the District Water Officer what is happening, but I am not getting an answer,” he said.
Mr Michael Lokiru, the District Water Officer, however, said some of the sites were vandalised by locals, especially in Natapar Arengan.
“We were supposed to have repaired all these systems, but we don’t have money,” he said.
Rose Tebakol from Natapar Arengan said she is a member of the project’s water user committee, but she has never seen a single drop of water since it was constructed and completed two years ago.
