The ministry repossessed over 200 acres of Land in Arapai last year, amidst contention, after Soroti City Councilors locked horns with the district leadership for demolishing weekly market structures at Amukaru, an area belonging to Aloet Ward in Soroti City.
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Women buying cabbage transported from Mbale to Arapai Cattle Market, the prices ranged from 400 - 1000 shillings per cabbage
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has finally gazetted Arapai Cattle Market to Soroti District Local
Government.
The ministry
repossessed over 200 acres of Land in Arapai last year, amidst
contention, after Soroti City
Councilors locked horns with the district leadership for demolishing
weekly market structures at Amukaru, an area belonging to Aloet
Ward in Soroti City. The councillors accused the district authorities of
frustrating efforts by the city to create revenue sources.
They also faulted the district chairperson,
Simon Peter Edoru Ekuu and Resident District Commissioner Patrick Okumu for setting up a parallel weekly
market at Akaikai in Arapai Sub County against another market, Amukaru in Aloet
Ward on the same day, Thursday. The two markets are within the same locality,
formerly under Arapai Sub County.
However, the district applied for a new site for the
relocation of the cattle market to Arabaka Village, Arapai Sub County in
November. In response to the application, the Permanent Secretary of
the Ministry of Agriculture Maj. Gen. David Kasura- Kyomukama granted
the request.
In his letter shared by the Soroti District Communications
Officer, Abraham Ekwaru, Kasura said that the ministry has acknowledged the
concerted efforts by the Local Authority in mainstreaming the
operations of the livestock markets for purposes of improving the certification
of animal movement and strengthening disease control.
“The operations of the market must follow approved standards
guidelines in order to comply with animal welfare, disease control and public health
aspects which are key in ensuring safe animal products for human consumption as
prescribed in Animal Disease Act, Cap 38”, the letter reads.
Kasura also wrote to Soroti City Clerk to relocate from Amukaru
which currently hosts the city cattle market. in his January 20, letter,
Kasura
said that the ministry has identified Arapai as an inland export
quarantine station for the control of trade-sensitive diseases
especially Foot and Mouth diseases which are a major hindrance trade of
animals and their products both
locally and in the international markets.
“The purpose of this communication, therefore, is to request
you to relocate the livestock market currently operating on the said land so
that the Ministry can put the land to its intended use”, the letter concludes.
The Soroti Communications Officer, Abraham Ekwaru told our
reporter that the district has already allocated space to vendors to commence
business on Thursday.
//Cue in; “Because... that place…
Cue out…community members.”//
Bureau Chief, Soroti
Living the Pen
