Morris Ogwal, a farmer from Ogwete sub county in Otuke district is disappointed that after spending a lot of money on pesticides to manage his tomatoes, the prices has dropped and there are very few buyers.
Bonny Ocen, the District Agricultural Officer advised the farmers to think of planting fast maturing crops especially the improved variety in order to avert the looming famine.
Daniel Tonny Otile, a local farmer in Abwong A in Abwong parish, says he was shocked to find countless desert locusts in his 6 acre cassava plantation.
In 2009, President Museveni while in Otuke district pledged to establish the stock farm in the area to be used as the livestock multiplication centre to boost government restocking program in the region.
President Museveni subsequently directed the State House controller to deliver some 200 heifers on the land but the proposal soon stalled in 2013 due to land dispute when some local residents mainly from the clan of Atek-Okwerowee rejected it.
The seedlings are being planted at Oliduru Central Oliduru Central Forest Reserve (CFR) in Ogwete Sub-county; Otuke district on more than 200 hectares of land.
Otuke district in Northern Uganda has experienced a dry spell since October 2018 until late March 2019 when the region received intermittent rainfall. The pattern affected planting seasons in 2018 and the beginning of 2019, leading to severe food shortages.
Joseph Okello, a resident of Angaro village in Olilim Sub County, says they are at risk of losing their animals once the herdsmen are allowed to enter the district.
This follows disclosures that a herdsman identified as Francis Kiiza had secretly returned into the district with about 46 animals and camped in Olilim Sub County, where, according to residents, he was hosted by some areas leaders.
The 4-acre Barlegi farm has an acre dedicated to coffee, another for fruits, the third acre for family food growing and the fourth acre dedicated to grass farming for zero grazing dairy cows. On the same farm, the president has a borehole which is being used for irrigation during dry weather conditions.
Recently, the Presidency Minister directed security agencies in Lango sub region to ensure the Karamojong herdsmen are protected from any aggression by the complainants.
Last week, elders from Karamoja pleaded with their counterparts in Lango to allow the herdsmen to stay in the area in vain. Ambrose Lotuke, the Kotido District LC V chairman argued that the prolonged drought has taken a huge toll on their lives and livestock.
Julius Acon, the Otuke MP says the invasion by the Karamojong herdsmen in the area is a big security threat to the community, adding that residents are still healing from the brunt of cattle rustling by Karamojong warriors.
In 2012, an attempt by government to evict the squatters led to the death of Alfred Oluge, the Deputy Head of Atekokwerowee clan during the resultant protests.
Patrick Onyanga, the Otuke District Forestry officer says they have continued registering massive cutting of shear nut trees for charcoal burning since the resolution was passed.
Abak, who has spearheaded environmental protection in the districts of Otuke, Abim, Agago, Alebtong, Pader and Nwoya since 2012, said that the sector receives only 1 percent of the districts total budget, making it the least facilitated sector by government.
Although Okwenye maintains that the project was well intentioned, Quinto Ojok, the Otuke council speaker says the decision has entirely been rejected by the residents. He also described the project as irrelevant.
Otuke district leaders are divided over plans to establish a Stock farm on a disputed piece of land in Olilim Sub County. Controversy surrounding the 400-acre piece of land dates back to 2012 when President Yoweri Museveni asked for the same land to establish a training base for the Special Forces.
A severe shortage of essential commodities has hit Otuke district after traders there stopped bringing the commodities because of high prices. As result, the few traders selling essentials commodities have more than doubled the prices of their merchandise.
