Monitoring of LEGs Projects in the Districts of Alebtong and Katakwi
The Local Economic Growth support team from Ministry of Local Government visited Districts of Katakwi and Alebtong to monitor the progress of the project facilities. The implementation of the LEGs Project has resulted into some illustrious benefits in the communities where the Project is being implemented.
KATAKWI DISTRICT:
Bulking and storage facilities – The Ongongoja multi-purpose storage facility:
The Farmers multi-purpose facility is a solid investment by Government aimed at creating a one-stop grain and cereal centre in the district.
The facility has been constructed with proceeds from Local Economic Growth Support project (LEGS), with support by the Islamic Development Bank to which Uganda has been a member since 1975.
“The Construction of the bulking center has reduced the post-harvest losses that the farmers incurred in the past and there is no more exploitation by Middlemen, we are selling our produce to Kenya, Busia and also looking for market in South Sudan,” Gabriel Engole the Chairperson of the Cooperative said.
The monitoring team checking some of the crop produce in the bulking facility in Katakwi district. LEGs M&E Officer – Christopher Kisinde (3R), during the exercise
The facility in Ongongoja, the food basket of Katakwi has continued to deepen its roots and has mobilized 2,525 out-growers within the District and in Karamoja areas of Lorengcora, Poron and Matany.
Massive crop production is anticipated with the available farmland standing at 20,000 acres.
Road Network:
Ngariam-Palam-Ising: Vice President Jessica Alupo, who doubles as Woman MP Katakwi District on the 28th July 2022 commissioned 13 km Ngariam- Palam-Ising community road in Katakwi district. It covers three economically important areas i.e., Ngariam, Palam and Ising predominantly for cattle farming. The road traverses and connects 10 villages of Ngariam, Amuturo, Palam, Aleles, Otuko, Otomei, Ongeera, Lia, Aojabule and Ising.
Since the commissioning, many achievements have been registered such as:
Direct route linking of 10 Villages to Service Delivery Facilities for example Palaam Health Centre III, Palam Primary School, Palam Seed Secondary School, Clean and Safe Water Points: Ising Borehole, Otomei Borehole, Amuturo Borehole. These are all near the roads.
Increased Security in the area – links to the UPDF Strategic Barracks, established to combat Cattle Rustling. Security Organs are now able to effectively monitor movements in the area, which has contributed to the reduction of Cattle Raids in the District.
Improved crop production and marketing– The availability of the road has enabled opening of farmland in the areas. Farmers are now able to access their farms. Notable production has been seen in rice, soyabeans, watermelon, groundnuts.
Besides, easy transportation of farm produce to the markets, traders are able to have direct access to farmers in their homes.
The road Connects to Ocorimongin Livestock Market – the largest Livestock Market in Teso Sub Region. This has helped traders to connect to the market easily thus boasting income.
Energy efficient cooking technologies:
Left: One of the local artisans showing how to mix the material to produce biogas. Right: Mr. Kisinde (left) and Mr. Muhindo inside the kitchen checking the efficiency of the technology at Mr. Ilima Samson home in Ameritele village, Katakwi District.
The district benefited from the government funds where local artisans were trained in energy efficient cooking technologies namely, biogas, briquette making and building institutional and household cookstoves.
This is part of the government efforts under the project to reduce on environment destruction in the communities, as the technologies reduce fuel consumption by 50%.
ALEBTONG DISTRICT: Alebtong TC-Awei road:
Health workers from Awei health Centre 111 riding their bicycles back to the station after an immunization day outreach.
Alebtong Town Council-Awei 10.8km road was commissioned on 11/4/2022. This road links Awei, Abako and Alanyi health centres. This has enabled health workers reach out to the communities to offer services such as immunisation which has improved death rates in children.
Many roadside businesses have been established on the roadside which were not in place few months ago such as eating kiosks, grain milling, motorcycle riding businesses (boda -boda), shops among others.
A crop produce trader measures sorghum for sale in Ajuri. This is an example of the roadside businesses cropping up along the road.
Promoting Renewable and Clean Energy Saving Technologies as a Community Enterprise
Commissioning and handover of Local Artisans trained in energy efficient cookstoves, briquette making at Amugu Agro Technical Institute in a Alebtong District.
Local Artisans demonstrating how to operate a Briquette making machine after the training in Alebtong district.
The intervention has also been used to empower Youth in Alebtong. The trainees who gained additional skills of making Household Cookstoves were excited with their new journey to earn income from the sales, which would supplement on their school fees and other requirements.
The Resident District Commissioner Mr. Adyama Robert committed that acquisition of Institutional Energy Saving Cookstove was going to be adopted as a minimum requirement for Primary Schools in the District. He also added that the district would offer space to the trainees to display their stoves for the mean time as they gain more market before renting out a space for their products.
This technology is projected to reduce the amount of firewood consumed by 50%, which in turn would reduce the rate which trees and forests are being depleted.
