Our Reporter
KATAKWI
The Grade II Magistrate court in Katakwi has remanded Lazarus Otim, a resident of Abwokodia village, Usuk parish, Katakwi district, for allegedly vandalizing and stealing the Adai Valley Dam Solar parts.
Lazarus Otim, David Otunyo’s son, was arrested by the RDC at his residence at night earlier this month and transported to Katakwi CPS for custody before being charged in court and remanded to Katakwi prison for alleged theft of two batteries and a solar panel last week.
The 1 billion Adai valley tank was built by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries with funding from the Government of Uganda/IDA, the regional pastoral livelihoods resilience project, IGAD, and the World Bank, with the goal of increasing livestock production through improved access to water.
The Adai Valley Tank was built by BAP Eng. Company in the fiscal year 2020/21 and has a capacity of 45,000 million cubic liters, but its operation remains optimum because the facility has been vandalized.
Rt. Maj. Godfrey Katamba, Resident District Commissioner, who oversees government initiatives in the district, issued stern warnings to members of the public over vandalism of government projects, pledging to apprehend any member deemed to be a victim of circumstance.
He claims that, while the District Veterinary Office is not linked to Adai vandalism, they are investigating into mismanagement of resilience projects such as Ajesai Holding Grounds in Getom, Olilim Holding Grounds in Palam Sub County, and a multi-million modern abattoir in Katakwi Town Council.
The Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries Ministry provided money for all three facilities developed as part of the Regional Pastoral Livelihood Resilience Project, which began in 2015 costing Shillings 3.8 billion.
According to Raphael Ojakal, Usuk’s district councilor, Adai’s dam construction was completed without informing the community about its location. He claims the steep and deep dam has caused livestock owners to lose nearly 50 herds of cattle since its construction.
Livestock producers in the villages of Akuoro, Apuuton, Acurun, Opoyongo, and Abwokodia, whose animals receive water from the dam, recently chastised past district authorities, particularly those in charge of the resilience program and engineers, for incorrectly positioning the dam in an elevated position.
On April 15, 2021, during the commissioning of the valley tank, neighbors spotted flaws and criticized the dam’s substandard work, but were calmed down by local officials.
At the time of commissioning the Adai Valley Dam, District Veterinary Officer Ariko Onyait guaranteed farmers in April that the engineer will correct the one-year defect liability.
