Maracha, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A multi-million slaughter house in Oleba Town council Maracha district has remained idle nearly eight years after construction.
The facility which is located in Arua cell, Central ward was constructed during 2016/2017 financial year at over 30 million shillings under the then former greater Oleba sub county.
Silvano Jurua, one of the butchers, explains that ever since the facility was constructed more than seven years ago it has been redundant, something which has forced them to continue slaughtering their animals on the ground.
Edna Likico, a resident is concerned that the continued non-functionality of the slaughterhouse risks exposing the meat consumers to health dangers since most butchers’ slaughter animals in unhygienic places.
Silva Drani, the councilor for Oleba Town council says the delayed operationalization of the facility is long overdue adding that the Town council has lost a lot of local revenue since the facility has not been put into use.
He further noted that the Idle facility risked being vandalized by the unscrupulous people if no agent step was taken to operationalize the facility.
Luiji Egabu, the acting LCIII chairperson of Oleba Town council blamed the district officials for failing to commission and hand over the facility to them despite their repeated appeals.
But Issa Droma, the Town clerk of Oleba Town Council says that they are already engaging the butchers to ensure they start using the facility to slaughter their animals as opposed to the current practice where they slaughter in the bush. He added that they have also procured meat carriers to facilitate the transportation of meat from the slaughterhouse to the town center.
When URN reporter visited the facility on Friday, the area surrounding it is bushy, the gate locked and part of the perimeter fence dilapidated.
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