The government has set aside Shs. 3.8 billion to end flooding problem in Kapelebyong District.
The Shs. 3.8 billion project is expected to mitigate the flooding problem in the region through the construction of six valley tanks in the district.
According to Eng. Patrick Okotel, the Region Manager for Water Production, the project was spear headed by the Ministry for Water and Environment. It is expected to store 30M liters of water in each valley tank. This was meant to help solve the problem.
“Our immediate plan is to construct valley tanks at strategic locations where we shall protect targeting the roads, homes and farm lands,” he said.
Okotel also noted that the project was to be done in two phases and that in the first phase there were six valley tanks to be constructed including two in Kapelebyong, one in Amuria and three in Katekwi.
The second phase was to be done in the Elgon region with the construction of ten valley tanks in the region.
“We have entered a memorandum of understanding with the African Development Bank to construct additional Ten Valley Tanks each of 30m liters in the district of Bulambuli, Bukedia and Sirinko,” said Okotel.
Okotel said that the whole intervention started from Karamoja because it was the most sustainable provided that there was need to mitigate the floods and they come from that side.
Kapelebyong district, in the Teso sub region, has for many years been faced by floods especially from the two faces of Karamoja sub-region and Elgon.
The Kapelebyong floods have destroyed crops and houses displacing hundreds of people.
“The whole place becomes flooded and they are a lot of damages,” a one resident said, noting that that is why the area has had a lot of famine in the past years.
Richard Olunga, LC5 chairperson Kapelebyong, also noted that Kapelebyong district had gone through a series of challenges during the dry season and that one couldn’t even trace any green accept when the area received a little down pour.
“Over 500 households in one village depend on one borehole. Animals depend on this as well which sometimes results to death due to inadequate water,” Olunga said.
Adding that with these valley tanks the population of Kapelebyong will be able to irrigate their plants, feed animals and also use it for domestic use.
Many locals and leaders are optimistic that the project will improve on people’s lively hood, through providing water for animals and irrigation.
