Vandals steal solar panel from sh600m FAO-funded project in Nakaseke

CRIME | NAKASEKE

A 600M  project  funded by the Food and agricultural organisation (FAO) to provide safe water for people and animals in the semi-arid area of Nakaseke district, has hit a snag. This is after five of the 10 solar panels that were installed to run the system were reported stolen.

The theft which is being investigated by the police in Nakaseke, comes hardly a few weeks after the project was officially commissioned.

Funded under the Global Climate Change Adaptation (GCCA) of FAO, through the Ministry of water and environment, the project which was recently commissioned at Wakyato in Nakaseke North constituency, was supposed to supply water for people and animals in Wakyato and nearby areas.

The Nakaseke district police commander, Julius Asiimwe, confirmed theft of the solar panels by unknown people. Asiimwe said the police had initially arrested two guards to help in investigations, but they were later released on Police bond.

Dan Matanda the Karitas Kasanaensis co-ordinator for Nakaseke district, said after discovering the theft of the five solar panels, he informed the police Nakaseke who visited the scene the following morning, but failed to recover the stolen solar panels.

The area LC5 councillor Mohammed Gubya said the theft of the solar panels was a big blow to government's efforts to provide water to the semi-arid area. Gubya said the residents have to walk 3km to collect water.

The Wakyato LC3 Chairperson, Aisha Kamukama, condemned the theft, saying the area is facing a big water problem, with few boreholes available.