UPC president Akena reopens Akokoro Cattle Dip after nearly 40 Years

13 January 2026, 1:52 pm

By Denish Ongora

The President of the Uganda People’s Congress, Jimmy Akena Obote, has reopened a community cattle dip in Akokoro Sub county, Apac District, marking the first cattle-dipping exercise in the area since 1987.

Speaking to the media at his home in Akokoro, Akena said the revival of the dip tank is part of a deliberate effort to rebuild livestock livelihoods destroyed during years of conflict.

The dip, originally constructed during the late President Apollo Milton Obote’s regime, had remained idle for nearly 40 years after cattle were lost and communities displaced.

Akena noted that his family made a conscious decision to forgive the past and focus on restoring the future, beginning with livestock infrastructure.

He emphasised that restoring cattle populations must start with disease control, training, and community organisation, not just compensation.

The rehabilitated cattle dip has a capacity of 15,000 litres and will help control tick- and tsetse-borne diseases, including Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and trypanosomiasis.

Akena explained that rehabilitating the existing structure cost less than a quarter of the 68 million shillings required to install a modern spray race, making it more suitable for communal use.

He added that he plans to rehabilitate around 80 dip tanks across Northern Uganda, with donor support already pledged for four additional facilities.

Akena urged communities to take shared responsibility for managing the dip tanks.

After the media briefing, journalists were taken to Akena’s farm, where more than 20 cattle were dipped to mark the launch of the new initiative.

For many residents and their animals, this was their first experience of cattle dipping, a practice that had been absent for generations.

Veterinarian Dr Silvano Odero said the dip would significantly reduce livestock losses and health risks for farmers, noting that manual spraying is largely ineffective.

For now, the service is being provided free of charge as the community adapts.

Okello Ramathan, a local farmer, welcomed the initiative, saying that dipping is more effective than hand spraying and will improve cattle health.