Nyakatonzi Sub County in Kasese district has enacted by-laws to regulate and monitor the utilization of the revamped Nyakatonzi Valley Tanks. The Sub County holds more than 50% of an estimated 80, 000 cattle in Kasese.
The area was devastated by drought. In 2021, alone more than 100 animals died. The government through the Ministry of Water and Environment constructed three mega valley tanks in Kagango, Kakongye and Kyasenda parishes to increase water for production.
However, the valley dams dried up while some of the equipment was vandalized, which leaders blame on the absence of proper management. Sub County leaders reasoned that there is a need to establish effective and sustainable water management structures and put up maintenance norms and regulations formulated and adopted by the water users themselves.
The bye-laws will be enforced by a locally the livestock water facility committee-LWFC. According to the Sub County Chairperson, Swizin Bukenya, the bye-laws have introduced penalties on illegal access to the three water points, illegal activities in or around the tanks and vandalism.
For example, if one is found using the undesignated path, he/she will pay a fine of Shillings 50,000 while a household will be subjected to a fine of Shillings 100,000 if found using children below 16 years to water animals at the dams.
The laws also provide guidance on cleaning and maintaining the valley tanks, meetings on operation and maintenance, collection and management of water user fees and related funds and disease and pest control mechanisms.
According to the bye-law, a household will pay Shillings 5000 per month to access the valley dams while infected animals are barred from accessing the water points. Bukenya says that the current drought is the worst to have happened in the area and thus the valley dams must be well managed for livestock survival.
Patrick Kajumuro, the sub-county speaker says the bye-laws are coming in to give the local users a sense of ownership. Michael Rucwanisa, a cattle keeper from Muhumule Village welcomes the bye-laws noting that the lack of management had affected the operation of the valley dams.
“The bye-laws will definitely eliminate conflicts we have been having whenever watering our animals,” Rucwanisa said. Kasese District Council led by the speaker Obed Tsotswana approved the bye-laws.
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