Overview:
The Town Clerk of Abim Town Council, Joshua Akamu, explained that since the council handed over the abattoir to the association in July 2024, no budget line existed for water bills, and high water usage contributed to the arrears. LC3 Chairperson of Abim Town Council, Dick Wilson Otoo, acknowledged that illegal slaughtering continues in hidden locations. He said the council will pay 600,000 shillings toward the pending 1.3 million shillings debt accrued before the handover to facilitate the reopening of the abattoir.
The closure of the Abim Town Council abattoir over unpaid water bills has triggered a rise in illegal slaughtering and unsafe meat handling, raising serious public health concerns. The facility was disconnected from the water supply in July 2025 due to 1.3 million shillings in unpaid bills, halting official slaughtering activities.
This disrupted operations for members of the Butchery Association and fueled fears over meat safety in local markets. Veterinary Officer Lucy Angee told reporters that she had repeatedly warned the Butchery Association about poor hygiene at the abattoir even before its closure. She formally notified the town council about the deteriorating conditions, prompting a meeting with the Town Clerk, Health Inspector, and association representatives.
Despite these efforts, the situation remained unresolved, leading to the water disconnection. Angee cautioned that the closure had resulted in increased sales and consumption of unverified meat, which poses risks of diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis, and anthrax. She stressed that some meat may come from animals that were already dead or whose health status is unknown.
The Chairman of the Butchers Association, Gabriel Ogoo Oketch, acknowledged that without water, the abattoir cannot operate legally. He said the closure has caused substantial financial losses, limiting slaughtering to market days, and noted that meat processed outside the facility lacks proper veterinary inspection, putting consumers at risk.
During a meeting at the town council office on Wednesday, the association contributed 300,000 shillings toward clearing part of the outstanding water bill. Juspher Aguma, the Area Manager of Karamoja Umbrella Water Association, agreed to reconnect the water immediately. Association members also pledged to maintain continuous cleanliness at the facility.
The Town Clerk of Abim Town Council, Joshua Akamu, explained that since the council handed over the abattoir to the association in July 2024, no budget line existed for water bills, and high water usage contributed to the arrears. LC3 Chairperson of Abim Town Council, Dick Wilson Otoo, acknowledged that illegal slaughtering continues in hidden locations. He said the council will pay 600,000 shillings toward the pending 1.3 million shillings debt accrued before the handover to facilitate the reopening of the abattoir.
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