Deputy Speaker Commissions Construction of Acomai Irrigation Scheme Warns against Project Mismanagement
More than 30 MPs have today joined the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among for the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of Shs71billion Acomai Irrigation Scheme in Kamutur Sub County in Bukedea District.
The Project under the Agricultural Value Chain Devt Programme in the Ministry of Agriculture is intended to increase agricultural productivity, improve post-harvest handling, agro-processing and value addition, market access, and competitiveness and will also contribute to the success of the Parish Development Model.
In attendance at the launch were; Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze, State minister for Energy Opolot Okasai, State minister for Economic Monitoring Peter Ogwang and MPs, etc.
In her speech, Deputy Speaker who is also the Woman MP for Bukedea District urged the Ministry of Agriculture to jealously monitor the implementation of the project, saying it has been a long-awaited project.
“I am glad that the dream that started in 2016 has finally come into reality. My people here know how long this journey has been and how much we need this Project,” Among said.
“I don’t want you [Ministry of Agriculture] to leave this baby to the hands of people who will mismanage it. I am going to monitor this project myself,” she said.
Minister Tumwebaze pledged to ensure timely implementation of the project and promised to compensate the locals for land as soon as possible. Apparently, Shs1bn has been earmarked by the government to compensate the project-affected persons.
The scheme covering 1,608hectares will come with associated infrastructure such as; Administration Block, 2 Drying Yards, Warehouse, Workshop, Bridge, and 58kms of Access Roads.