Shs2 billion government fishing project goes to waste in Serere district

The multibillion shilling facility, which was meant to help the fishing communities of Serere district and surrounding markets and preserve fish in a clean environment has remained in a sorry state with no signs of concern by the government for a possible rehabilitation.

In 2017, after four years of construction, a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry and Fisheries headed to Kagwara to commission the fish handling facility. However, then Serena District Chairperson Joseph Okojo blocked them.

"The works at the facility were shady and incomplete so I told the minister then and her team that on behalf of Serere, I cannot receive this facility, and as far as I know That facility was not received by Serere. It still belongs to the minister of Agriculture," Okojo told NTV in an interview this week, adding, "Three months later the facility met with its first natural disaster when the winds blew off the roofs from the main building and store. The community saw what I had I had seen before they could see the wind was blowing every Iron Sheet here and there the structures were collapsing left and right."

Local leaders say the facility was supposed to have piped running water, a cooler and an ice-making fridge, and dryers among others. However, they say, the Ministry wanted to give them an incomplete facility.

"This facility cost around Shs2.13 billion and this is taxpayers' money," says Kagwara Town Council LCIII Bernard Odikor.

The former District Chairperson says he raised the matter with the different governments and Corruption agencies for investigations but to date, no reports or response has been received by the district to other relevant authorities.

"I even wrote to Parliament. Parliament said the whole committee also that they were coming to investigate, but after the investigation, nothing has happened," Okoja said.

The project had the best objectives and solutions to the challenges faced by the fishing community in terms of local revenue, even the quality of fish that will be coming out of Kagwara by way of handling and processing, would be of very high quality. However, according to the Minister for Fisheries Helen Adoa, records in the ministry indicate that the project is complete and functional.

She adds that there are several other projects in other districts with similar challenges.

The City says the ministry should look for more resources and complete the project since the fishing Community is making losses as their fish Roots away consequently they are compelled to sell it at a cheaper price.