Amuru authorities issue fresh ban on makeshift structures at Elegu Border Market

AMURU – Authorities in Amuru district have banned traders at Elegu Border Market from erecting new makeshift structures at the market following a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth billions of shillings.

The fire which according to reports is the 30th incident since 2013 is estimated to have cost traders Shs 3 billion.

The 2:20am fire reportedly started from a makeshift shop where a trader was frying fish before it spread to other shops destroying merchandise in wholesale shops, drugs shops and produce premises among others.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru District said, traders will now be allocated plots on which they will construct permanent buildings instead of makeshift structures which are prone to fire outbreaks.

“We intend to shift the business community out of that place to a regulated area where each trader will be allocated a plot and they will utilize the plot for a longer time,” Lakony said adding that the district has 250 acres of land for that purpose.

The new area in question is 30 meters away from the current market.

“We intend to do it for the safety of traders and their properties. It will be regulated to stop fire outbreaks which have become routine,” he added.

Majority of the business premises in Elegu Border Market are made out of corrugated iron sheets for both the walls and the roof.

However in 2017, Amuru District issued a similar ban after fire destroyed property worth over Shs3 billion.

That ban was never effected as traders quickly rebuilt their makeshift structures and resumed business.

Lakony said that effecting the ban was hindered by several reasons including interference from presidential assistants in the region and non-compliance from traders to vacate the current premises where they were not paying any taxes.

The border town in Amuru district that has more than 2,600 traders mostly from Uganda lies just 100 metres from the South Sudanese border town of Nimule.

Lakony told theCooperator news that this time round, traders will be evicted if they refuse to leave peacefully.

“If they fail to heed to our directives, we will use minimum force to evict them,” he said.

The Chairperson also said they were starting work on the new market location immediately adding that a grader was to start clearing the area while registration of traders for easy allocation of plots had also been commissioned.

On Friday, a team from the committee of finance from Parliament visited the area to assess the damage left by the fire.

Kovuki John Idra-the L.C111 Chairperson Elegu Town Council supports the move saying, Elegu Border Market has been too congested making it difficult for access in case of fire.

“The market has been too congested with no access for vehicles. Our plan of the new market is that there should be access in case of any fire, fire brigade should be able to move and put out fire easily,” Kovuki said.

Okema Michael Opilo, a trader at Elegu Border Market welcomed the initiative but called on the Central government to build permanent buildings there.

“For us as traders, we are interested in doing business in Elegu so government should come out and build for us a proper market,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/20-cattle-die-of-suspected-poisoning-in-lira-city/

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Amuru authorities issue fresh ban on makeshift structures at Elegu Border Market

AMURU – Authorities in Amuru district have banned traders at Elegu Border Market from erecting new makeshift structures at the market following a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth billions of shillings.

The fire which according to reports is the 30th incident since 2013 is estimated to have cost traders Shs 3 billion.

The 2:20am fire reportedly started from a makeshift shop where a trader was frying fish before it spread to other shops destroying merchandise in wholesale shops, drugs shops and produce premises among others.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru District said, traders will now be allocated plots on which they will construct permanent buildings instead of makeshift structures which are prone to fire outbreaks.

“We intend to shift the business community out of that place to a regulated area where each trader will be allocated a plot and they will utilize the plot for a longer time,” Lakony said adding that the district has 250 acres of land for that purpose.

The new area in question is 30 meters away from the current market.

“We intend to do it for the safety of traders and their properties. It will be regulated to stop fire outbreaks which have become routine,” he added.

Majority of the business premises in Elegu Border Market are made out of corrugated iron sheets for both the walls and the roof.

However in 2017, Amuru District issued a similar ban after fire destroyed property worth over Shs3 billion.

That ban was never effected as traders quickly rebuilt their makeshift structures and resumed business.

Lakony said that effecting the ban was hindered by several reasons including interference from presidential assistants in the region and non-compliance from traders to vacate the current premises where they were not paying any taxes.

The border town in Amuru district that has more than 2,600 traders mostly from Uganda lies just 100 metres from the South Sudanese border town of Nimule.

Lakony told theCooperator news that this time round, traders will be evicted if they refuse to leave peacefully.

“If they fail to heed to our directives, we will use minimum force to evict them,” he said.

The Chairperson also said they were starting work on the new market location immediately adding that a grader was to start clearing the area while registration of traders for easy allocation of plots had also been commissioned.

On Friday, a team from the committee of finance from Parliament visited the area to assess the damage left by the fire.

Kovuki John Idra-the L.C111 Chairperson Elegu Town Council supports the move saying, Elegu Border Market has been too congested making it difficult for access in case of fire.

“The market has been too congested with no access for vehicles. Our plan of the new market is that there should be access in case of any fire, fire brigade should be able to move and put out fire easily,” Kovuki said.

Okema Michael Opilo, a trader at Elegu Border Market welcomed the initiative but called on the Central government to build permanent buildings there.

“For us as traders, we are interested in doing business in Elegu so government should come out and build for us a proper market,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/20-cattle-die-of-suspected-poisoning-in-lira-city/

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Amuru authorities issue fresh ban on makeshift structures at Elegu Border Market

AMURU – Authorities in Amuru district have banned traders at Elegu Border Market from erecting new makeshift structures at the market following a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth billions of shillings.

The fire which according to reports is the 30th incident since 2013 is estimated to have cost traders Shs 3 billion.

The 2:20am fire reportedly started from a makeshift shop where a trader was frying fish before it spread to other shops destroying merchandise in wholesale shops, drugs shops and produce premises among others.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru District said, traders will now be allocated plots on which they will construct permanent buildings instead of makeshift structures which are prone to fire outbreaks.

“We intend to shift the business community out of that place to a regulated area where each trader will be allocated a plot and they will utilize the plot for a longer time,” Lakony said adding that the district has 250 acres of land for that purpose.

The new area in question is 30 meters away from the current market.

“We intend to do it for the safety of traders and their properties. It will be regulated to stop fire outbreaks which have become routine,” he added.

Majority of the business premises in Elegu Border Market are made out of corrugated iron sheets for both the walls and the roof.

However in 2017, Amuru District issued a similar ban after fire destroyed property worth over Shs3 billion.

That ban was never effected as traders quickly rebuilt their makeshift structures and resumed business.

Lakony said that effecting the ban was hindered by several reasons including interference from presidential assistants in the region and non-compliance from traders to vacate the current premises where they were not paying any taxes.

The border town in Amuru district that has more than 2,600 traders mostly from Uganda lies just 100 metres from the South Sudanese border town of Nimule.

Lakony told theCooperator news that this time round, traders will be evicted if they refuse to leave peacefully.

“If they fail to heed to our directives, we will use minimum force to evict them,” he said.

The Chairperson also said they were starting work on the new market location immediately adding that a grader was to start clearing the area while registration of traders for easy allocation of plots had also been commissioned.

On Friday, a team from the committee of finance from Parliament visited the area to assess the damage left by the fire.

Kovuki John Idra-the L.C111 Chairperson Elegu Town Council supports the move saying, Elegu Border Market has been too congested making it difficult for access in case of fire.

“The market has been too congested with no access for vehicles. Our plan of the new market is that there should be access in case of any fire, fire brigade should be able to move and put out fire easily,” Kovuki said.

Okema Michael Opilo, a trader at Elegu Border Market welcomed the initiative but called on the Central government to build permanent buildings there.

“For us as traders, we are interested in doing business in Elegu so government should come out and build for us a proper market,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/20-cattle-die-of-suspected-poisoning-in-lira-city/

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Amuru authorities issue fresh ban on makeshift structures at Elegu Border Market

AMURU – Authorities in Amuru district have banned traders at Elegu Border Market from erecting new makeshift structures at the market following a fire outbreak that destroyed properties worth billions of shillings.

The fire which according to reports is the 30th incident since 2013 is estimated to have cost traders Shs 3 billion.

The 2:20am fire reportedly started from a makeshift shop where a trader was frying fish before it spread to other shops destroying merchandise in wholesale shops, drugs shops and produce premises among others.

Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru District said, traders will now be allocated plots on which they will construct permanent buildings instead of makeshift structures which are prone to fire outbreaks.

“We intend to shift the business community out of that place to a regulated area where each trader will be allocated a plot and they will utilize the plot for a longer time,” Lakony said adding that the district has 250 acres of land for that purpose.

The new area in question is 30 meters away from the current market.

“We intend to do it for the safety of traders and their properties. It will be regulated to stop fire outbreaks which have become routine,” he added.

Majority of the business premises in Elegu Border Market are made out of corrugated iron sheets for both the walls and the roof.

However in 2017, Amuru District issued a similar ban after fire destroyed property worth over Shs3 billion.

That ban was never effected as traders quickly rebuilt their makeshift structures and resumed business.

Lakony said that effecting the ban was hindered by several reasons including interference from presidential assistants in the region and non-compliance from traders to vacate the current premises where they were not paying any taxes.

The border town in Amuru district that has more than 2,600 traders mostly from Uganda lies just 100 metres from the South Sudanese border town of Nimule.

Lakony told theCooperator news that this time round, traders will be evicted if they refuse to leave peacefully.

“If they fail to heed to our directives, we will use minimum force to evict them,” he said.

The Chairperson also said they were starting work on the new market location immediately adding that a grader was to start clearing the area while registration of traders for easy allocation of plots had also been commissioned.

On Friday, a team from the committee of finance from Parliament visited the area to assess the damage left by the fire.

Kovuki John Idra-the L.C111 Chairperson Elegu Town Council supports the move saying, Elegu Border Market has been too congested making it difficult for access in case of fire.

“The market has been too congested with no access for vehicles. Our plan of the new market is that there should be access in case of any fire, fire brigade should be able to move and put out fire easily,” Kovuki said.

Okema Michael Opilo, a trader at Elegu Border Market welcomed the initiative but called on the Central government to build permanent buildings there.

“For us as traders, we are interested in doing business in Elegu so government should come out and build for us a proper market,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/20-cattle-die-of-suspected-poisoning-in-lira-city/

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Fort Portal leaders ask traders who lost their businesses to fire to form a SACCO

FORT PORTAL – The Fort Portal Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Irene Linda Mugisa has asked traders who lost their businesses to fire last week to form a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO) to help them mobilize funds.

Hon. Linda said once they organise themselves in a SACCO, it will be easy for those who want to support them channel the money direct to their SACCO not to individuals.

“As leaders, we are ready to support you, we just want you to be organised. We are aware that most of you have loans to pay but we are ready to help you get start-up capital once you are organised,” she said.

Hon. Linda said, she reported to the State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness about the incident and he requested for a report to help her follow up and see how they can help those who lost their businesses.

She noted that together with her colleague Hon. Alex Ruhunda, the MP Central division, Fort Portal City, they will follow up to ensure these people are given help.

The State Minister for Luwero Triangle, Hon. Alice Kaboyo pledged Shs 20m which they will receive after forming a SACCO.

Hon. Kaboyo promised through the Office of the Prime Minister to check with the banks where these traders have loans so that they can negotiate how they can be given a grace period as they try to sort out themselves.

Hon. Kaboyo paid a courtesy visit to the fire victims while in Fort Portal for her other official duties.

She appealed to traders and leaders in Fort Portal City to be vigilant and revise ways of ensuring they have good structures equipped with fire protective equipment.

“Fort Portal is now a city and this fire has been an eye opener to leaders and everyone. You need to prepare because anything can happen at any time. So, you need to look at ways of preventing such incidents in future,” she said.

Background

On Friday, fire gutted timber stores, furniture and spare hubs in Fort Portal City leaving traders and landlords in losses worth millions of shillings.

Four landlords and 66 tenants lost their businesses and are now stranded. Most of these have loans in some banks, SACCOS and other financial institutions.

According to the Rwenzori West Regional Police Commander, SSP Norman Musinga, according to their investigations, fire came from one of the kiosks where the owner could have used a motor and left it hot and there could have been sparks of electricity hence the fire outbreak.

“Most of the things like metals used by these people can be the source of fire. For example, a motor, once in use and there happens to be sparks ignites, fire starts immediately,” Musinga noted.

He said, it was not easy to stop the fire because the place was very congested and the fire brigade vehicle couldn’t easily find a way through.

Musinga apologised for the poor condition of the fire brigade vehicles which had mechanical problems and could not reach in time but they tried their best to do what they could.

“I need to put this clear to you that our fire brigade vehicles are not in good condition and it’s not only here in Fort Portal but in the country but we are doing our best,” he added.

He advised that if traders are to return to the burnt place, there should be a plan of decongesting the area or else there will be another fire outbreak in the near future.

https://thecooperator.news/masindi-demonstration-farm-cows-stolen/

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Ministry of lands rejects Kikuube district Land Board Chairperson

KIKUUBE – The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has rejected the appointment of Ignatius Muganyizi as the district Land Board Chairperson for Kikuube district.

Muganyizi was appointed by the Kikuube council in October last year but his appointment drew protests among residents and leaders of Kikuube district.

During the council session, 11 out of 24 Councillors voted against the appointment of Muganyizi as the Chairperson Kikuube district land board.

The residents and area MP protested his appointment as they accused him of being behind the rampant land grabbing in the district.

According to the residents, Muganyizi who previously served as the Kabwoya sub-county Lands Committee Chairperson from 2009 to 2016 allegedly connived with tycoons and issued titles leading to evictions of people from their ancestral land.

After his appointment, the council submitted Muganyizi’s name and other members on the committee who included Tibeita Tusabe, Sarah Atagwireho, Muzamil Balihamwe and Peterson Kyomuhendo to the Ministry for approval.

According to a letter dated 15-12-2021, which was shared with theCooperator news, signed by Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Dorcas W Okalanyi addressed to Kikuube district local government, it indicates the committee members were approved but Muganyizi’s name was rejected.

According to the letter, the Ministry rejected Muganyizi’s name after residents and some local leaders expressed their discontent about his appointment.

In this letter, the PS advised the district council to appoint another person who will work as district Land Board Chairman in the interest of the public.

“Furthermore, in respect to the gender issue, the district is also advised to appoint an additional female member to the board so as to meet the gender requirement under the land act,” the letter reads.

Chelangat Andrew MiltonKamalingin, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Kikuube district confirmed that the district received this communication from the Permanent Secretary adding that as the CAO, he will advise the Council on how to handle the matter.

Nicolas Kiiza, the Secretary for Production, Marketing and Natural Resources headed a committee which investigated the allegation of the residents before the appointment of Muganyizi said, the district is planning to hold a council next month to discuss the matter.

He noted that the council is likely to appoint female members on the land committee as it was directed by the Ministry and thereafter, the council will get one person from the names which were approved as committee members to serve as the Land Board Chairperson.

Alex Byasi, the District Councillor for Kabwoya South sub-county, who was the lead petitioner to reject Muganyizi during the council meeting, commended the Ministry for listening to the people’s outcry.

He noted that as petitioners, if Muganyizi had been approved as the district Land Board Chairman, it was going to be a disaster.

He noted that the integrity of Muganyizi is questionable, adding that having him as the Land Board Chairperson would fuel land grabbing.

Amlan Tumusime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner (RDC) said the rejection of Muganyizi was expected since the public had rejected him.

He noted that Kikuube is one of the districts in the region with the highest rate of land conflicts hence appointing someone with questionable integrity as Land Board Chairman would make matters worse.

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Poor on-farm practices responsible for tick resistance, says NDA’s spokesperson

KIRUHURA – Farmers in Kashongi Kiruhura district have been advised to put more emphasis on good farm practices to address the challenge of persistent tick resistance on their farms.

This was revealed by National Drug Authority (NDA) during a forum dubbed “Farmer’s parliament” where both crop and livestock farmers in Ankole sub-region are engaged to share their challenges and forge solutions on the farm.

During the meeting, Eric Rutahigwa, one of the successful livestock farmers in Western Uganda, tasked the NDA to explain why ticks have persisted on their farms despite several interventions in place.

Rutahigwa further blamed NDA on failure to control fake acaricides entering into the country through porous borders.

“During 1963, farmers were using the same drugs we are using today and their animals could not suffer from tick related diseases. Now, should we think today we have fake drugs entering through Congo and elsewhere?” he asked.

In response, Abiaz Rwamwiri, the Spokesperson NDA confirmed that tick resistance has been terrorizing farmers especially in the cattle corridor since 2012 especially in districts of Ankole and Nakasongola.

However, he warned farmers in Kiruhura district to start good farming practices to address issues of tick resistance in the area.

“Even if we protect the supply chain when the on-farm-practice is not good, it can make the drug not work and it’s that consistent misuse that creates the resistance,” says Rwamwiri.

Some of the farm practices include; types of pressure pumps used, the crash and mixing of acaricides.

“When some people are told to mix a litre in 20 litres, they think it’s a jerrycan, yet most jerrycans’ contents are more than 20 litres which means the drug will get diluted and it will not work effectively.”

Working with the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Rwamwiri says NDA is coming up with mechanisms of supply chain to track fake acaricides entering into the Ugandan market.

“Of course, we had engagements with Hon Frank Tumwebaze and he assigned a team two weeks ago. We are also going to meet the importers of the veterinary drugs to strengthen our operations because whereas we release good quality drugs on the market, we cannot say that there are no counterfeits. We know there are wrong elements that are counterfeiting the drugs and unfortunately some of these guys are professionals who have been helping farmers that started mixing the acaricides,” he explained.

“We release drugs when they are of good quality, safe and their efficacy is okay and now we want to make sure that the supply chain is protected keeping the drug in the intended condition because a good drug if not handled well, its quality can deteriorate and will not serve the intended purpose,” he adds.

Rwamwiri also says, NDA will extend village trainings especially in areas of Kiruhura where tick resistance has become a growing concern.

“We have made a commitment in Kiruhura because we realized they have more challenges yet with the highest number of cattle that produce close to 2 million litres of milk a day. Starting with mid-February this year to the end of March, we will be having intensive trainings in each of the sub-counties working with the DVO,” says NDA’s spokesperson.

“We shall be meeting farmers, identifying key farms that have the highest resistance and diagnosing because as National Drug Authority, it is our concern when people are losing their animals to preventable and treatable diseases like East Coast Fever, Anaplasmosis, and Heartwater,” he added.

Rwamwiri also warned farmers that mixing acaracides with agrochemicals is detrimental to both humans and animal health.

“Of course, there are issues of mixing agrochemicals like the dudus, the two in one pesticides that farmers are talking about shouldn’t be applied on animals because animals are like humans and their bodies are so sensitive that is why they are getting blind and infertile,” says Rwamwiri.

However, Rutahigwa insists that a number of government authorities have failed on the role of controlling fake acaricides which has sparked a common norm of tick resistance in the cattle corridor.

“Doctors of NDA must accept that you have failed your role to control and regulate animal drugs. And there are three people who have killed us, that is NDA, NMS, and those in Agriculture expertise like NAGRIC rather than blaming us farmers that we are using poor farm practices,” Rutahigwa emphasized.

Robert Kabatereine, the Coordinator of Farmers Parliament says, the forum is seeking government support to farmers to improve on the farming systems, boost product capacity and market for the products.

“We intend to fill the gap between farmers and the government. We bring experts like from NDA to identify the challenges of farmers for adequate solutions. Like if there is an issue of fake drugs in the market how do we resolve it, and all this will be exposed through the farmers’ parliament,” Kabatereine said.

https://thecooperator.news/nutri-nova-trains-masindi-farmers-on-disease-control/

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Masindi demonstration farm cows stolen

MASINDI – Cows belonging to Masindi district demonstration farm in Labongo sub-county in Masindi have reportedly been stolen following a lay off at the center.

The center was established to serve as an agricultural demonstration farm for the district.

Wahid Babyesiza, the area district Councilor says, six out of the nine cows that were at the center disappeared under unclear circumstances.

“This is negligence by the district leaders and the caretakers of the center which could have led to the collapse of the center that was meant to be a demonstration to the farmers in the district. Despite the theft of the cows from the center, no one has been arrested in connection with the crime. This makes me believe there could have been connivance by some concerned officials in district,” the angry councilor told theCooperator.

He adds that all workers were laid off by Masindi district without paying them.

Job Byaruhanga, the District Agriculture Officer Masindi admits that some of the cows have been stolen by unknown people who beat the center security officer.

“We have not yet ascertained who could have been behind this. We’re still investigating the matter,” he said.

Byaruhanga added that the district has plans to revive the facility and make it a true demonstration center for the district such that people can always go and learn new agronomic practices.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the district Chairperson also confirmed the incident to theCooperator saying, something is being done to find out the people behind the theft.

However, he dismissed Babyesiza’s allegations of nine cows at the facility, yet they were six.

“There were only six cows at the demonstration farm and only three are the ones that were stolen,” Byaruhanga clarified.

“A case has been filed at Masindi Central Police Station (CPS) for investigation. All the people who used to work at the center were laid off during the latest restructuring of government workers in the country. The district executive has resolved to sell off the remaining 3 cows as part of the plan to revive the center into a better facility that will serve the entire Bunyoro sub-region,” the politician explained.

None of the authorities could tell when they were stolen.

https://thecooperator.news/minister-kasolo-arrests-dco-over-emyooga-funds/

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Mbarara Central Market completion extended again

Traders in Mbarara district will again have to wait longer before they can occupy the highly anticipated Mbarara Central Market, after its completion date was extended to January 2021.

This is the third such extension of the project after the contractor, Roko Construction Company, failed to deliver on the original February 2020 due date.

The Shs 21bn project is being implemented by ROKO Construction Company under the Markets and Agriculture Trade Improvement Project (MATIP) that aims to improve agricultural trade.

Mbarara City Principal Commercial Officer, James Agaba, blamed the delay on the COVID-19 pandemic which paralyzed site works and hampered purchase of materials.

“ROKO had placed an order for some materials from China but when COVID-19 hit harder some factories had to close. Even the team that was supposed to inspect the materials before shipment from China could not proceed since the airports were closed at the time,” he added

He revealed that following the easing of lockdown, the inspection had been done and shipping of the materials commenced.

Extension

In light of this, Agaba said the contractor has been given till end of January 2021 to complete works or else trigger a fine of 0.5% of the total project cost per extra day in liquidated damages.

“According to the terms of contract, Roko is supposed to lose 100 million per day beyond 31st of January 2021, a charge they are supposed to pay to the central government for not finishing the market in the agreed time” Agaba vowed

However, Eng. Willie Swanepoel, the Contract Operations Manager Roko Construction Company suggested that the delays were caused by the central government that has been slow in releasing project’s money.

“I could not risk employing so many workers when there is no money to pay them; neither would you make orders for the materials when you are not sure of what to pay after deliveries, so even government is to blame,” said Swanepoel.

The Principal Commercial Officer, however, insists that government is ready to pay the contractor once the project is completed, adding that government has been extra careful to avoid situations that would lead to litigation or extra fines.

“Government is well aware of the consequences of breaching the contract. For instance if the contractor is frustrated by government, the contractor is supposed to charge government as well, as embedded in the contract agreement,” Agaba said.

Traders impatient

Donozio Kibanda, Secretary for Publicity Mbarara Central Market Vendors Association said that the continuous delays in completing the market are a nightmare for the traders who were temporarily relocated to the municipality’s Independence Park grounds to allow construction works to commence.

The City Principal Commercial Officer appealed to the central market vendors, now based at Independence Park to remain patient, saying the market should be done in a couple of months.

“The market is in its final stages- at 90% completion, according to a previous report. We are only left with a few things which we should be able to finish up in the remaining time, and then can traders occupy their market,” says Agaba.

Some of the remaining construction works at the facility include installation of water tanks, roofing and tiling.

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Pakwach: Rising L. Albert waters destroy local businesses

Business owners in Panyimur Town Council, Pakwach district, are in tears over the rising levels of Lake Albert that have submerged several business premises in the area, leading to loss of income estimated in the millions of shillings.

Genaro Muswa Maditwun, who owns one of the top hotels in Panyimur Town Council, Pakwach district, says he started his hotel business in 1998 in Panyimur, then one of the busiest landing sites in West Nile.

However, he says his business has been decimated by waters from L. Albert which have cut off access to his hotel and submerged a significant portion of it.

“I am making a loss of Shs 1.2m in monthly income, before factoring in the repair costs once the waters recede,” Muswa said.

Several businesses and infrastructure along the buffer zones of lakes and rivers in Panyimur Town Council, Pakwach district, have been submerged or destroyed following increased rains that started last year, resulting in the rising water level of L. Albert.

All income generating activities at the landing sites, both government-funded and privately owned, have come to a standstill as a result of the ongoing disaster.

“I am currently suffering from diabetics and [high blood] pressure, in addition to servicing a loan. I can no longer look for capital to start a new business,” a despondent Muswa says.

Paul Kinobe, the Chairman of Panyimur’s business community says majority of the business premises in the area have been submerged by water, making them impossible for customers to access.

“Accommodation facilities like hotels, bars and lodges have been the most affected,” he said.

Kinobe called upon the government to assess the situation of business owners affected by the flooding and come to their rescue.

“Our local business operators are in a panic about how to pay back loans they had borrowed, since their businesses are greatly affected by the rising water level and the lowered incomes as a result,” Kinobe said.

Cholera fears

Meanwhile, Panyimur Sub County, LC III Chairman, Shaban Ofoi expressed concern that the area, known in the past as an epicenter for Cholera in the region, might be headed for another attack of the epidemic since most of the latrines have collapsed or been submerged by the rising water levels.

“Our latrines and clean water sources at the landing sites are submerged with water. The few facilities left are being overwhelmed by the population. We could face another Cholera epidemic if close attention is not paid to helping the local community,” Ofoi said.

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