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Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The continuous death of hundreds of fish in Kobebe multi billion dam in Moroto district has thrown many pastoralists in the region in panic.
Hundreds of fish which the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with National Agriculture Research Organisation -NARO put in the dam to multiply have died in what pastoralists suspect could have been malicious poisoning.
Naluku Emanikor, a Turkana pastoralist who was grazing his animals at Kobebe dam said he was shocked at the sight of thousands of dead fish floating on top of the water in the dam.
He said the stench emitted by the dead fish has made animals lose appetite for drinking the water.
“This dam had been the main source of water for animals and many people grazing their animals in Kobebe but right now, the whole dam is smelling and you can’t even take the water,” he said.
John Robert Akiiki Adupa, the sub county chairperson of Lotisan in Moroto district said it is not clear what’s killing the fish.
He said most cattle keepers are now stuck and they have no where to go to graze and find water for their livestock.
“This dam had been providing water for more than 100,000 animals for Karimojong and the Kenyan Turkana pastoralists who are now scared that it could be poisoned,” he said.
Marry Nasike, another pastoralist said they are fearing waterborne diseases since they are consuming the same smelling water.
Kobebe dam is one of the dams built by the ministry of water for production in 2010 at the cost of Shs 6.7 billion.
The dam was built to address the water challenge for livestock in Moroto district, and is located 50 kilometers north east of Moroto town.
Similar dams were built in Kaabong, Kotido, Napak and Abim.
Mr. Charles Komakech, the Chief Administrative Officer of Moroto says he is going to get consult with the production officer to establish what could be killing the fish.
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