KATAKWI STILL STRUGGLING TO STAND AFTER ELEVEN YEARS

Jul 30, 2008

KATAKWI<br><br>It is 11 years since Katakwi was granted district status. However, development in the district has been hindered by the activities of the the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels and the Karimojong cattle rustlers. More so, last year, it was devastated by floods. So, infrastructure in th

KATAKWI

It is 11 years since Katakwi was granted district status. However, development in the district has been hindered by the activities of the the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels and the Karimojong cattle rustlers. More so, last year, it was devastated by floods. So, infrastructure in the district is in a bad state and it still relies on aid. Ronald Kalyango talked to its chairman, Robert Ekongot

QUESTION: What is the food situation in your district? ANSWER: In the past, the district used to produce only 40% of its food requirement and buy the rest from other districts. However the percentage of food produced in our district went down to 30% after the floods in 2007. So, many people do not get enough food.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation recently distributed relief items to the residents. Do you think the farmers will plant the cassava cuttings and sweet potato vines?
We have enough land and people are willing to engage in agriculture. Some of the land has not been in use by farmers for 30 years, so it has regained its fertility. I am sure 80% of the farmers will plant the donated planting materials.

There is fear that the farm inputs will be sold in Soroti district.
I am confident that most farmers will use the hoes that were donated to cultivate their land.

Do you think the vouchers-for-work initiative will encourage residents to work harder?
It is a good initiative and it is our prayer that all non governmental organisations operating in the district embrace it. It encourages people to work hard since the vouchers are exchanged for farm inputs.

Do the farmers have enough planting materials?
We still need to distribute more planting materials and assorted seeds before the August-September season begins. The communities also need more agricultural tools and to be provided with ox-ploughs. Since our mission is to regain our past glory as the food basket of Uganda, I request the Government to give us the recently launched walking tractors. We also need to restock the communities with improved livestock breeds.

How come the district does not have access to electricity?
The district is earmarked to benefit from the 33 KV feeder power line from Soroti to Moroto and Kotido, which was proposed by the national electricity provider. A dispatch sub-station for the line has already been completed in Opuyo near Soroti town, about 50km from Katakwi district headquarters.
At present, we use small generators to power equipment such as office machines like computers and grinding mills.
Although solar energy has a high natural potential in the district, its use is still limited to a few health facilities and homes.
At the moment, there is only one filling station in the district. The second station is yet to be completed, but it has had its construction stalled for over two years. This leaves firewood and charcoal as our major sources of energy.

What is the transport sector like?
We have a trunk road network of 73km and a rural feeder road network of 506km. Of the feeder roads, 381km is motorable by all types of vehicles.
There is also water transport using canoes across Lake Bisina and Lake Opeta to Kumi District.
About 20km of railway crosses the western part of the district from Soroti to Lira districts. The line is presently not operational.
However, the flat landscape of the district presents good potential for the aviation industry, which could be exploited in future as the economy grows.

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FACTFILE

-Katakwi is located in north-eastern Uganda. It borders Nakapiripit to the east, Lira and Soroti to the west, Kumi to the south and Moroto to the north.
-With a total area of 5,114 sq. km, Katakwi has 177 sq. km. under water. There are two minor lakes (Bisina and Opeta) and River Kiriik, a seasonal river that flows from neighbouring Karamoja. The water sources are a source of fish.
Permanent wetlands comprise 37.7%. It has a land area of 4,740 sq.km and the rest is under forest.
-The soils are mainly of sandy sediments and sandy loam. Although not very fertile, the land is productive with Amuria County in the west of the district being the most fertile.
-The main form of transport in Katakwi district is road. There is also water transport using canoes across Lake Bisina and Lake Opeta.
-The district has a population of 300,012.

Compiled by Ronald Kalyango

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