A prolonged drought from November 2024 to March 2025 has devastated Katakwi District in eastern Uganda, with over 1,000 animals killed due to severe water and pasture scarcity.
The four-month dry spell has decimated farmers who are struggling to make a living.
According to Geoffrey Omolo, chairperson of Katakwi LC5, the area has lost an average of three animals every day due to the issue.
Every sub-county reportsdaily losses of five to ten animals, highlighting the drought’s severity.
Omolo expressed hope that the desilting of valley dams under the Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project (UCSATP), supported by the World Bank, would provide reliable water sources for livestock.
Samuel Elvis Ojula, the LC3 Chairperson of Katakwi Sub-County, described the water crisis as dire, attributing it to the siltation of the Awaya Valley Dam, which has been unusable since it was vandalised in 1964.
The sub-county, which depends on a single valley tank in Osudam to serve over 15,000 livestock farmers across 17 villages, has lost 121 animals during the drought—far exceeding the usual two-month dry spell losses.
On March 23, 2025, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) surveyed Apolin Village and Ocorimongin Dam to assess the situation.
The UCSATP, a six-year project worth Shs354 billion funded by the World Bank, aims to promote climate-smart agricultural practices and improve infrastructure to enhance resilience and productivity.
Moses Anguria, the Senior Social Development Officer for UCSATP, announced plans to desilt 300 dams and establish animal holding areas for fattening and disease management in 69 districts.
He assured stakeholders that engineers would soon visit Awaya Dam to draft Bills of Quantities (BOQs) to fast-track the project.
Meanwhile, farmers like Sam Okwi, Rose Amuda, and Robert Ibwala have raised concerns over wetland encroachment, particularly by Ignatius Apuda Loyola, which they say has restricted access to grazing areas.
Some herders are forced to trek up to 10 kilometres to reach Angobo wetland and Ongole Dam in Usuk Sub-County.
With 95.8% of Katakwi’s population living in rural regions and relying primarily on agriculture and cattle, the protracted crisis jeopardises the district’s economic foundation.
The National Livestock Census 2021 indicates that the eastern and western areas account for 23% of Uganda’s 3.3 million cattle, emphasising the region’s reliance on animal husbandry.
As the drought worsens, the UCSATP project hopes for long-term solutions by stabilising water supplies and pasture availability while boosting lives in Katakwi.
Source: Nile Post
