APAC DISTRICT LAUNCHES EXCAVATION OF FIVE FISH PONDS UNDER UCSATP TO BOOST AQUACULTURE

Apac District has officially launched the excavation of five fishponds under the Uganda Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP) at the Chegere Aquaculture Cooperative Union in Kidilani Parish, Chegere Sub-county. The launch was officiated by the District Chairperson, Hon. Ambrose Agec, marking another milestone in the district's efforts to improve household incomes through climate-smart agriculture and aquaculture.

The project, valued at UGX 75.3 million, is being implemented through a cost-sharing arrangement in which the Government of Uganda is contributing 80% of the project cost, while the 15 members of the Chegere Aquaculture Cooperative Union have contributed the remaining 20%. The project involves the excavation of five fishponds, each measuring 20 meters by 50 meters, and the provision of fingerlings, fertilizers, and lime, among others.

Speaking during the launch, Mr. Tyan John, the Principal Fisheries Officer and Aquatic Value Chain Lead, urged the beneficiary group to safeguard the investment and manage it responsibly so that it transforms the livelihoods of their households and the wider community. He explained that the co-funding arrangement is intended to promote ownership and sustainability, emphasizing that beneficiaries should regard the project as their own investment rather than a government project.

The District UCSATP Focal Point Person, Mr. Elinga Maxwell, encouraged the group members to uphold honesty, transparency, accountability, and commitment throughout the implementation and management of the project to ensure that the intended objectives are achieved.

On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Nelson Okello Otia, Chairperson of the Chegere Aquaculture Cooperative Union, expressed gratitude to the District Local Government for its continuous guidance and support, which enabled the group to become the first beneficiaries of the project in Apac District. He appealed for continued support from the district leadership, particularly in expanding the group's enterprise to include livestock production alongside the fish farming project.

While officiating at the launch, Hon. Ambrose Agec, the District Chairperson, reaffirmed the district leadership's commitment to ensuring that government programs directly benefit the people they are intended to serve. He urged the group members to protect the fishponds from stray animals and children and to maintain the facilities properly for long-term productivity.

Hon. Agec expressed optimism that the cooperative would grow into a major supplier of fish not only within Apac District but also across the Lango sub-region and beyond. He encouraged the members to reinvest their profits by constructing additional fishponds to expand production and increase their incomes.

He further called upon the group members and the contractor to work together harmoniously throughout the excavation process to ensure quality and timely completion of the project. He emphasized that the Government is investing heavily in programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of citizens and urged the community to embrace, protect, and maximize such opportunities for sustainable socio-economic transformation.