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Residents of Buyende district are outraged by
government’s failure to operationalise the Shillings 2.5 billion Shillings ice
plant at Bukungu landing site.
Built in 2009, the ice plant is part of several
others built on 30 landing sites in different parts of the country, with the
aim of boosting fresh fish exports through skilling local communities in modern
fish conservation and packaging.
Ministry
of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries-MAAF handed over the ice plant
to Buyende district local government in 2014.
However,
the ice plant has been lying idle ever since. Some residents
interviewed by URN on Tuesday, said some
equipment like refrigerators, water system and furniture have been vandalized.
Adam Mulero, a resident of Kikwata zone, says fishermen were
optimistic of producing quality fish products but their hopes have been
shattered.
//Cue in: “Twasanuka…
Cue out…tukyewunia,”.
Hussein Magada, a resident of Kagulu village says efforts to
get redress from their political leaders haven’t yielded results since most of
them lack knowledge on the project.
//Cue in: “Ensonga…
Cue out…kifulukwa,”//
Diana Nanono, a resident of Kyoga B zone, says wild animals
and cattle graze in the facility without control. She says some communities
without toilets have also resorted to open defecation in the compound of the
ice plant.
//Cue in: “mukisera ekyo…
Cue out…tukiganyulwemu,”.
John Muwadi, the Buyende District Fisheries Officer, says the
contractor of the plant was charge in the early stages of the project, which
affected the work.
He says they require approximately Shillings 250 million to
fix the missing blocks in the ice plant before operationalising it.
