Summary:
- The Adai Valley Dam, valued at 1 billion shillings, was constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries with funding from the Government of Uganda, the International Development Association (IDA), the Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilience Project, IGAD, and the World Bank.
KATAKWI: The Grade II Magistrate’s Court in Katakwi has remanded Lazarus Otim, a resident of Abwokodia village, Usuk parish, Katakwi district, for allegedly vandalizing and stealing from the Adai Valley Dam.
Otim, the son of David Otunyo, was arrested earlier this month at his residence during a nighttime operation led by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC).
He was taken to Katakwi Central Police Station (CPS) before being charged in court. Otim is accused of stealing two batteries and a solar panel from the dam and has been remanded to Katakwi Prison.
The Adai Valley Dam, valued at 1 billion shillings, was constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries with funding from the Government of Uganda, the International Development Association (IDA), the Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilience Project, IGAD, and the World Bank.
The project aimed to increase livestock production by improving access to water.
Built by BAP Engineering Company in the 2020/21 fiscal year, the dam has a capacity of 45,000 cubic meters. However, its functionality has been compromised due to repeated vandalism.
Rt. Maj. Godfrey Katamba, the RDC of Katakwi, issued stern warnings to the public regarding the vandalism of government projects, vowing to arrest and prosecute anyone involved.
He added that while the District Veterinary Office is not directly linked to the Adai vandalism, investigations are ongoing into the mismanagement of other resilience projects, including the Ajesai Holding Grounds in Getom, the Olilim Holding Grounds in Palam Sub County, and a modern abattoir in Katakwi Town Council.
These facilities were all funded under the same Regional Pastoral Livelihood Resilience Project, which started in 2015 at a cost of 3.8 billion shillings.
Raphael Ojakal, the district councilor for Usuk, criticized the construction of the Adai Dam, claiming the community was not consulted about its location.
According to him, the steep and deep dam has caused the loss of nearly 50 cattle since its completion.
Livestock owners from surrounding villages, including Akuoro, Apuuton, Acurun, Opoyongo, and Abwokodia, have expressed frustration with the previous district administration, particularly those overseeing the resilience project and the engineers involved.
They argue that the dam was incorrectly positioned on elevated ground, making it dangerous for animals.
Despite these concerns, local officials tried to reassure the community during the dam’s commissioning on April 15, 2021.
However, residents noted flaws in the construction and questioned its quality. District Veterinary Officer Ariko Onyait assured farmers at the time that the engineer would address any defects within a one-year liability period.
