Oyam town council locks 12 houses, destroys kiosk over sanitation

14 March 2025, 10:30 am

By Eman Yonah Oruk

Oyam town council authority has taken drastic measures against business owners at Te-Aduku trading centre, locking 12 houses and destroying one kiosk due to poor sanitation.

This action follows four months of warnings and pleas from local leaders to construct toilets and rubbish pits, which were ignored by the business owners.The affected individuals, including Jokene Geoffrey, Teke David, Angole Nixson, Odongo Moses, and Acut Patrick, were found to be operating businesses and rental houses without proper sanitation facilities.

Speaking to the community of Te-Aduku after the operation, Vicky Apio, the Town Clerk of Oyam town council, said that the recent actions were a result of the affected individuals’ failure to adhere to the town council’s guidelines.

She further announced that a tender will be given to Te-Aduku to boost revenue, with the aim of reducing poor sanitation in the area

Stephen Okello Marioshoni, the LC3 Chairperson of Oyam town council, stated that last year, they visited Te-Aduku and urged the community to construct toilets and rubbish pits, but their pleas were ignored.

According to Okello, as a wise leader, he does not want his voters to die from diseases caused by poor sanitation.

Daniel Ayoo, the Secretary of Health for Oyam town council, added that last year, the council educated the Te-Aduku community on proper sanitation practices for homes and trading centres, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

As a result, Ayoo and his clique took action yesterday, locking 12 houses as examples and uprooting one kiosk that was previously used to sell contaminated pork.

Tommy Opio, the Mayor of Te-Aduku treading conter, commented that the actions taken yesterday at Te-Aduku should serve as an example to other trading centres.

He urged individuals whose houses were locked to begin constructing pit latrines, effective immediately.

Alice Adong, the LC1 Chairperson of Te-Aduku, stated that she has been advising residents to maintain clean sanitation for a long time, but her efforts were met with abuse, with some accusing her of seeking personal gain.

Efforts to obtain comments from those affected were unsuccessful, as they declined to speak to the press, fearing that speaking out would result in their houses being locked up permanently.

Oyam town council’s next move will be to address sanitation issues at Agoa Upper Centre, Pacu Dongo Idand, Acet Trading Centre, Corner House, Widyang Otuto Aluk, and Puga.