Government launches 6 valley dams 

Other beneficiaries include Katakwi, which will have three dams and Amuria, which has been allocated one dam. Each valley tank has a capacity of 30,000,000 litres.

The ground-breaking ceremony took place in  Odukul Village, where the construction of Odukul Dam, sitting on 13 acres in Kapelebyong, kicked off last Friday.  It  will cost about Shs600m.

Mr Patrick Okotel, the manager of water for production in eastern region, during the launch said  the intervention would control  floods and other climate change-related effects.

“This is one of the interventions, which will act as buffer against floods, which wash away homes, schools, health centres and also destroy village access roads,” he said.

Mr Okotel said the construction of dams, which would cost more than Shs3.8 billion, would help in harvesting water for crops and livestock, especially during the dry season. The construction is scheduled to take place within four months.

He added that government will rehabilitate old dams and construct small-scale irrigation schemes in Teso to promote commercialised agriculture.

“The establishment of the small-scale irrigation schemes will change lives since there will be increased productivity,” he said.

Mr Richard Enyagu, the Kapelebyong District  vice chairperson, said every year thousands of families are displaced due to floods.

“When floods occur, settlements are washed away and the people are forced to relocate to safer places. This has affected development,” he said.

Mr Enyagu said the district also faces challenges of access to water.

“In the entire parish, you find there is only one borehole and the problem is worse during the dry season because this is when our uncles from Karamoja invade us here with their cattle in search for water and pasture,” he said.

Mr John Ejiet, the production officer of Kapelebyong, said the district experiences extreme weather conditions, which affect efforts by families to have enough food.

“The extreme weather conditions such as water logging, have affected crop production,” he said.

Ms Agella Akurut, the deputy chief administrative officer of Kapelebyong, said the flooding is also responsible for poor sanitation. 

Ms Ruth Janet Ibiara, a resident and headteacher of  Odukul Primary School, said floods give them sleepless nights.

“Whenever we experience floods, we have sleepless nights because it comes with huge costs to us. We are happy the government has remembered us,” she said.

The Resident District Commissioner, Mr Kyeyune Ssenyonjo, applauded the locals for embracing the government programme.

“I thank the community and also continue to assure you that the government is committed to causing equitable development,” he said.