Leaders want NUSAF project extended

Apr 09, 2008

NORTH<br><br>THE communities swung into action with enthusiasm, generating over 50,000 projects within five years.

NORTH

By James Odong
THE communities swung into action with enthusiasm, generating over 50,000 projects within five years.

Unfortunately only 17.2% of
these received funding under the
$133.5m (sh233.6b) Northern
Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF).

NUSAF, a five-year World Bank
project, is intended to help communities in northern Uganda
catch up with the rest of the country in terms of development.

However, some community projects may miss out when NUSAF which started in 2003, ends in March 2009.

The district chairpersons from
Teso, Karamoja, Lango, Acholi and West Nile recently agreed that NUSAF had changed the lives of their people despite challenges encountered in its implementation.

The leaders requested the Government to ensure NUSAF is extended into what would be known as NUSAF II. They said the challenges encountered in the first phase of the project would serve as lessons for more effective implementation.

“Mistakes made in the implementation in the first phase,
should serve as learning points,
said Tony Ogwang, the LC5
vice-chairman of Lira district.
“NUSAF has changed many lives
through projects like poultry,
piggery and animal traction.

Most of our people have been
returned home because NUSAF
constructed boreholes, roads,
classrooms and laboratories. What will happen if NUSAF winds up?”

Among the projects funded by
NUSAF are two classroom blocks worth sh34m, which increased school enrolment in Lira.

In Dokolo, NUSAF improved latrine coverage and constructed classroom blocks, teachers
houses, laboratories and libraries.

Yumbe chairman, Rashid Iyiga, noted that NUSAF had improved
education, health facilities and
safe water coverage.

Apac district speaker, Dickens
Wacio, said NUSAF had constructed water points and
schools.

The Gulu district chairman, Nobert Mao, described NUSAF as a special diet for the malnourished
communities in northern Uganda.

He castigated those who are
advocating Uganda Social Action
Fund, saying they were feeding
well and did not need a special
diet.

Mao called for NUSAF II to focus on providing farmers with inputs. He said the project needed to promote agriculture, storage facilities and marketing. NUSAF information officer, Martin Okumu, said NUSAF II would benefit the community.

“It would be unfair if NUSAF ended before other members who applied accessed the funds.”

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