FAO hands over Katakwi dam, market worth sh550m
Mar 27, 2024
Some of the repairs have been done through a cash-for-work modality involving local community members.
Dominique Reumkens in the middle listening to the local leaders at OcorImongin that was worked on
Godfrey Ojore
Journalist @New Vision
___________________ Dominique Reumkens the program specialist FAO inspecting Cheele dam with local leaders Dominique Reumkens the program specialist FAO inspecting Ocor-Imongin that was worked on
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has handed over a rehabilitated dam and Ocor-Imongin cattle market that they graded to Katakwi district authorities.
Katakwi is one among the 10 districts identified because of its vulnerability and historical occurrence of floods as identified by the Department of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Management of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in 2020.
The Strengthening Flood Early Warning, preparedness, and Anticipatory Action in hot-spot areas in Uganda, the project was funded by the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA) with a contribution of $1m (about shillings 3.9 billion) by the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, is implemented to reduce the impact of the expected floods given the foreseen heavy rains related to El Niño.
Already, the rains have started, and they will take a short time to affect the people as water logging shall take centre stage hence affecting their farming.
To support the communities at risk to cope with the flooding, and to enable fast recovery, the project provides early warning information and support to repair the critical flood control infrastructure around homesteads and rivers.
Some of the repairs have been done through a cash-for-work modality involving local community members.
In Katakwi, the project has carried out both cash-for-work and mechanised construction works.
The Cash for Work component involved the improvement of road drainage channels in Ocorimongin Cattle Market, which is one of the biggest livestock and foodstuff markets in the Teso region.
During the rainy season, the market was prone to overflow of runoff water into the grounds creating hygiene hazards.
The mechanised construction works involved grading, gravelling, and compaction of the same market grounds to improve drainage and hygiene conditions.
According to FAO, the work cost them shillings 150 million.
“The works on our market has not only elevated the status of our market but has also guaranteed good hygiene for us who trade here and to our visitors,” a happy district chairperson Geoffery Omolo said.
Additionally, mechanised rehabilitation of the existing Cheele Dam which is estimated at shillings 400 million was undertaken with a twofold objective of reducing downstream flooding and providing water for livestock especially during dry as livestock keeping is a major livelihood activity in the area.
FAO programme specialist Dominique Reumkens said they did this to save communities from the harsh effects of climate change that has always displaced people in Uganda.
“These actions aim to prepare the communities at risk to cope with protentional flooding to enable the first recovery specifically with our collaboration with the government and Red Cross we provided over 13,000 venerable farming households in the areas of Teso, Rwenzori, and Elgon with early warning information, support rehabilitated critical places,” Reumkens said.
Katakwi Deputy Resident District Commissioner Xavier Okwii urged the farmers to ensure they protect the environment by planting trees.
The communities expressed gratitude to FAO for the support. And promised to protect the infrastructure for their benefit.
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