“The 68% poverty in the region is high and the government needs to prioritize support to farmers through industrialization and commercialization,” Bishop Odama explained.
Steven Bugiri Kashaka, a farmer in Kanyaryeru Sub County says that almost all the dams that have been constructed in the area have dried up due to the heavy drought. According to him, communal dams dried up first after being overwhelmed by the animals because farmers could not afford the cost of excavators and bulldozer machines to dig their own dams.
David Acire, the Lukodi Village LC I chairperson told URN on Thursday morning that preliminary findings indicate that the rain destroyed hundreds of acres of crop gardens belonging to 516 households and several houses.
According to the State Minister for Agriculture Bright Rwamirama, the government has received 500,000 doses out of the 1.4 million doses that are expected to arrive this week.
Boniface Okanya, the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering and Mechanization in the Ministry of Agriculture noted that the ministry intends to build 18 more centres across the country beginning with four major including Dokolo, Masaka, Kiryandongo and Mbale districts.
Ntoroko is a predominantly cattle keeping district with cattle keepers comprising 80 percent of the population. Cattle are also a symbol of status to some families.
The floods have submerged several kilometres of the district’s land and roads, disconnecting a number of communities. Crop gardens that had initially survived the drought are now submerged.
Alfred Ebong, a resident of Ocamolum parish says he almost lost his 4-year-old son when he failed to get to the health center due to the floods. Adding that he resorted to treating the child with local herbs for three days before the canoe became operational to cross to the other side.
Markson Odongkara Labongo, the Superintendent of Agoro Self-Help Irrigation Scheme Cooperative Society Limited (ASHISCO) says that fences protecting the headwork and the main dam have all been brought down by community members.
Paul Ewoyu, the Aperikira sub-county LC III chairperson, says that the deceased made one alarm after the attack before the crocodile dragged him into the water. He says that some residents are forced into such risky fishing methods due to the biting hunger that has already hit several families resulting from the prolonged dry spell.
Joseph Bongomin, one of the farmers in Lujorongole Parish, told URN that the heavy rainfall and hailstorm destroyed his 15-acre crop garden comprising soya bean (4acres), sim sim (6) and cassava (5) leaving him stranded.
Solomon Odwee, a fish farmer from Ogang Apur parish in Acaba Sub County lost nearly 4 million shillings after purchasing counterfeit feeds which killed almost all the fish in the pond.
Grace Acayo, who used to grow rice at the irrigation scheme says she had to relocate to a different section adjacent to the main course of river Okura for easy access to water.
While conducting the exercise, Oyaro made incantation locally known as ‘’Agat’’, picked remains of the large intestine ‘’wee’’ and smeared on Aluma`s bare chest while he pleads with the gods to forgive them and relieve them of further destruction.
John Michael Acire, a farmer in Tangi Village disclosed that together with his households they have now decided to sleep in the garden and endure the colds of the nights to drive away from the elephants from further destruction on their farmlands.
In Nakasongola and Luwero districts, at least 96 heads of cattle have been stolen during curfew since it was revised in June this year. In Lyantonde 67 animals in Lyantonde, 54 and 40 thefts were registered in Lango and Sebie sub-regions respectively in June.
Oscar Gregg Ageca, the East Kyoga Region Police Spokesman, says that Police have opened a general inquiry file Number 15/2021 to investigate circumstances under, which the hoes valued at Shillings 11.7million went missing from the stores at the finance block at Soroti city council.
