Alfred Malinga, the Otuke Chief Administrative Officer, who is not certain if the construction material being used was tested wonders how long the construction works would take considering the time already wasted.
Quinto Odongo, the Otuke District Education Officer described the situation at many schools as “appalling”, saying that although they have plans of renovating the schools, they operate on a meagre budget.
The district with five government-aided secondary schools and 1 tertiary institution has only 93 filled positions against the 367 approved staff ceiling, leaving 274 vacancies unfilled.
Alfred Malinga, the Chief Administrative Officer explained that the District does not have enough resources to support these schools. He is worried that they may not be able to accommodate learners when schools open after the lock down.
In the last financial year, Otuke District Local Government signed an agreement with Alfonse Line Ltd to deliver 62 goats valued at 150,000 Shillings each.
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.
A section of local residents in Otuke district have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni demanding for the establishment of the stalled Stock Farm centre.The proposed establishment of the stock farm meant for the multiplication of livestock mainly heifers stalled in 2013 due to land dispute. The multiplication livestock centre was to be established on a 10,000 acre land at Amodonyanga village, Atira parish in Ogwete Sub County.
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.
The government has secured a total of over 400 million shillings to tarmac roads in Otuke district. This is the first time government is moving to tarmac roads in in the area since July 2009 when Otuke was curved out of Lira district.
Business in Otuke is almost coming to a standstill as traders and area leaders struggle to enter the district to do their work. On Saturday, traffic leading to Otuke district town council through Adwari –Aliwang trading Centre from Lira town was blocked as motorists and pedestrians struggled to use the battered road. Emergency repair called for.
Members of parliament from Lango region want the Otuke district security bosses probed and removed from their positions allegedly aiding and tolerating criminal acts during the recent clashing that led to death of one person over a disputed land to be given to president Museveni.
