{UAH} Supply of blind cows leaves Nusaf in a spot of bother

Supply of blind cows leaves Nusaf in a spot of bother

Thursday August 19 2021

One of the blind cows at a farm in Isingiro District last year. PHOTO | FILE | URN

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By Polycap Kalokwera

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Three beneficiary groups under the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (Nusaf) project III in Pader, have reported receiving blind cows.

The groups - Loyocak, Abang and Gangba Animal traction claim eight of the 36 cows they received have eye defects. 

The revelation has left Pukor Sub-county chairperson Richard Ojwini Opiyo, in a spot of bother.

"The DVO (district veterinary officer) directed the contractor to treat and manage the cows for 14 days before officially being cleared, but that has not happened,"  Mr Opiyo said.

He added: "The community went ahead to treat these cows and one  of the blind cows  has since recovered."

Mr Opiyo, who reported the matter to the concerned authorities, claims he is living in fear since his life is being threatened.

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Mr Fearless Obwoya Oyat, the district chairperson, told this newspaper that the cows were supplied when the project had already ended.

"The district Nusaf desk officer has not been doing his work properly because even those cows were supplied when the project has already ended and that project money should have been taken back," Mr Oyat said.

Mr Oyat also noted that the procedures for the project implementation were not followed, adding that most Nusaf III projects in the district have queries. 

He said: "My office will evaluate how the project was implemented in the past five years because the complaints are too many."

Mr Anthony Toolanya, the district Nusaf III desk officer, told Daily Monitor that he didn't verify whether the cows were healthy or not adding that his work was entirely being done by the district veterinary officer.

"I don't know whether the cows were inspected or not and besides, my work is to coordinate so I can't tell whether these cows were blind or not," Mr Toolanya said.

Mr Robert Saverio Okeny, the district veterinary officer, however, insists that "the beneficiaries got healthy cows" and he "vaccinated [the cows]  before handing them over." 

The contractor, Mr Bosco Otto, also denied supplying any blind cow.

"I am willing to replace these cows not because I supplied blind cows but because I believe it's the best thing to do now for the sake of the farmers," Mr Otto added.

Dr Robert Lim Lim Lowok, the Nusaf III director in the office of the Prime Minister, told Daily Monitor that the matter is currently being addressed.

"I have sent the IGG team on ground to investigate the matter and within one week, we shall be having a report of the findings and recommendations that will determine our next steps," Dr Lim Lim said.

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