At least 10 head of cattle are dying daily in Nakasongola due to prolonged drought , local leaders have reported.
Sam Kigula the LC 5 Chairperson of Nakasongola district has listed the most affected sub counties as Nabiswera, Lwabyata,Nakitoma and Lwampanga among others.
Kigula explains that the prolonged drought has left the valley dams and grass dry, leading at least 10 animals to die daily.
Kigula says that recently he petitioned the State Minister of Animal Husbandry Bright Rwamirama seeking for an excavator so as to enable the digging of more valley dams, a request which he accepted.
Kigula however is disappointed that the Ministry Officials are yet to release the excavators to save the pastoralists.
Kigula has since written back to the Minister asking him to reign in on Ministry officials and direct them to send the excavators to the district.
“Due to the dying cattle, the price of kilogram of meat has now dropped to 3,000 shillings in local markets. We can only reduce these animal deaths if the Ministry offers excavators to dig more dams,” Kigula said.
Sarah Nakate the District Councilor for Lwabyata sub county says that at least 30 animals have died within the sub county in past one month.
Nakate says that the water crisis has equally affected residents forcing them to pay 1000 shillings per jerrycan for domestic use.
In Nakitoma, the LC 3 Chairperson Godfrey Lutalo says that at least 150 heads of cattle have since died in his sub county since January this year.
Lutalo says several trucks now fetch water from Lake Kyoga and River Kafu and sell it to pastoralists who fill their dams. This water is laso are sold to individuals for home use.
According to Lutalo , pastoralists pay between 200,000 and300,000 shillings to fill a 20,000 litres water tank and those who own 100-150 animals need to refill it four times a month.
Samuel Lutaaya a pastoralist in Nakitoma sub county says that he has spent over 10 million Shillings on buying water from River Kafu to save his animals from dying.
Lutaaya says that several pastoralists who cant afford lose animals daily and others have resorted to sell them.
According to Nakasongola district veterinary office, there at least 266,791 heads of cattle and up to 1,000 heads of cattle die annually over the prolonged drought season.
Doctor Sam Eswaggu, the Nakasongola District Veterinary Officer has been repeatedly quoted by URN saying the problem is always escalated by overstocking.
According to Season Weather Forecasts for March to May 2022 by Uganda National Meteorology Authority, the onset of rains were expected in Nakasongola from Late February to March. The peak rains are expected from mid to late April with cessation in June this year.But the area is yet to receive any rains till date.
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