The Ministry of Water and Environment on July 10,2024 commissioned a-Shs550m Odukul flood mitigation valley tank in Kapelebyong Town Council, Kapelebyong District.

During the valley tank’s technical commissioning, Eng. Patrick Okotel, the Mbale Regional Manager of water for Production under the Ministry of Water and Environment, reported that the capacity of the valley tank is 60,000 cubic litres of water.

Other components of the valley tank included; three cattle troughs of 40 litres and two water tanks of 10,000 litres each.

According to him, the valley tank will serve over 10,000 animals with the focus to improve livelihoods through water for production.

He urged the beneficiary communities to forge approaches to ensure the sustainability of the facility.

“We instituted a nine members water user committee to manage this facility. They need to be empowered to manage the facility,” Okotel said, before pledging to closely work with the district to monitor.

Okotel also warned the communities against vandalism of the facility.

While officiating the commissioning of the valley tank, Tom Otukol Olinga, the Kapelebyong Resident District Commissioner, urged the communities to protect the valley tank with jealousy.

He described the construction of the facility as a positive achievement which showcases the efforts of National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party, to harness social economic transformation.

“We shall be grateful to find quantifiable improvement of your household livelihoods when we come to monitor this facility,” Otukol said.

Francis Akorikin, the District Chairperson for Kapelebyong described it as a gold to the community of Kapelebyong which has been water stressed for ages.

“We thank the ministry of water for this support. However, we still appeal for more valley tanks. Amidst budget cuts, please don’t forget us,” Akorikin, pleaded.

He was optimistic that the facility will reduce long treks of animals for water to Karamoja-Teso border areas as well as addressing cattle rustling by Karamojong warriors.

David Ebulu, the Principal Assistant Secretary while representing the Chief Administrative Officer, expressed that the valley tank will relieve the people and animals of neighbouring communities from crowding boreholes.

The community members equated the facility to gold, saying God has answered the long awaited prayer.

By Emmanuel Opio

Communication Officer

Kapelebyong District Local Government