Acholi community leader expresses concern over Multipurpose Water Project
In a statement, the leader says the project is rushed, and asks proponents to prioritize community engagement and consultation before rolling out the initiative
By James Chatim
Acholi Community leadership from Eastern Equatoria State, in Magwi County, has raised questions over a planned Limur Multipurpose Water and Resource Development project in the County.
The Community blamed the national government for rushing to implement the project without prior consultation, and studies to its environment and social impact on locals.
According to Okot David, the Acholi Community Chairperson, some politicians in Juba desperate of money hurried on starting the project before consulting the inhabitants in the area.
Okot said the action is a clear conspiracy by some politicians who do not care that the program would displace Acholi community in Magwi.
“You know the development of Joint Multi-Venture Project between South Sudan and Uganda is for community benefit. Prior studies should have been done, the community should have been consulted, people should have been educated. How the project is going to affect them, and how it is going to benefit them and the negative impact,” Okot said.
He expressed that the Acholi community land need to be developed and get services to compensate occupants due to the impact of the project.
“We should be consulted because the land where this project is going to be built will be developed. It is not a no man’s land. It will have an impact. It will displace people. The Choli community are part and parcel of South Sudan. We don’t refuse the development,” he exclaimed.
Okot called the process of implementation of the project as rushed and ‘for cake exchange from political elites’.
“A serious policy maker in Juba should have first of all gone on the ground and did the study and do the mapping. This is the reason why the whole policy memo was deferred. It was given a provisional approval that you go and do the mapping. Why didn’t they do the study before without rushing? So, for me, for us as a community, we believe this was a serious conspiracy,” he said.
Key project
However, key policy makers and proponents of the project see it as a gamechanger, especially that will spur agriculture through irrigation, and supply the much-needed water to human and livestock for use.
Last week, the Minister of Water Resources, Hon. Pal Gal, revealed that South Sudan and Uganda were considering to construct two dams for irrigation and water supply at Limur River, which is shared by Magwi County and neighboring Lamwo District.
The Minister presented a memo of 98 million-US dollar joint project to the Council of Ministers, proposing the construction of the Limur Multi-purpose Water and Resource Development project, an initiative that aims to support irrigation schemes and provide water supply for both human consumption and livestock needs in the two nations.
Disclosing the project to media following the cabinet meeting, Information Deputy Minister Maiju Korok said one dam will be built on South Sudan side, estimated to cost 36 million US dollars.
“The objective of this project is to construct two dams, for irrigation and water supply in Uganda and South Sudan; to construct irrigation schemes and provide water supply for both humans and livestock in the two countries,” Korok said in a media brief.
