The Ministry of Water and Environment, with support from WelthungerHilfe, a non-government, has organized a bench-marking visit for the Lokere Catchment Management Committee (CMC) to Albert Water management zone.

This one-week’s visit, from August 26-30th, 2024, is to provide a platform for the Lokere CMC to learn, share, and exchange knowledge, information, experiences, lessons, and challenges faced and to identify effective strategies in collaboration with key stakeholders for successful implementation of workable interventions.

According to Dr. Maximo Twinomuhangi, the manager for Kyoga water management zone, the exchange visit will also provide the Lokere CMC an opportunity to understand the catchment management process based on practical examples from their catchments and other catchments that can be replicated in the Lokere catchment.

While addressing the Lokere catchment management committee at the Ministry of Water officers in Fort Portal on August 27, 2024, Twinomuhangi raised the need to utilize the learning visit to cause positive change in water and resource management.

“Its because of WelthungerHilfe that we have managed to operationalize Lokere CMC. Welthunger has undertaken a number of interventions, which cannot be underscored,” Dr. Maximo said.

He informed the team that there is a fully developed catchment management plan and also called on the Lokere CMC to always take lead in strategic guidance of the interventions about the catchment.

Dr. Guma Brian, the manager for Albert Water Management Zone, welcomed the delegation from Lokere catchment management. He pledged to take the team to learn from various interventions undertaken by the Albert Water management zone.

The delegation visited Karangura Sub County in Kabarole district, Bweramule Sub County in Ntoroko district, Eco Tourism Shade (Kiriba Kyathumba), the Equator, and Kazinga Channel. Tooro Kingdom palace was also reached, and Sempaya springs in Bundibugyo.

Lokere catchment covers some districts of Karamoja and Teso, with Karamoja standing on the uphill and Teso at the base of the catchment.

Lokere falls under the Kyoga water management zone, which covers 55 districts.

Just like other catchments countywide, the Lokere catchment management plan was developed in 2017 for water and resource management.