Information and Public relations
Information and Public relations is charged with the responsibility of gathering and dissemination of news and carries out public relations on behalf of the District. Transmission of news by the department has been eased at least through internet installed in Chief Administrative Officer’s office. However, any activities needed the information officers to move in the field are hampered since there is no vehicle specifically allocated for the sector’s use.
The department lacks communication devices like recorders and other modern communication systems. The district has a web site which the district intends to active this financial year. This will help link the district to the ministries and outside. It will also improve on information gathering for departments and coordination with development partners would have been eased.
Works Sector
The Works and Technical Department comprises the Roads, Mechanical, Water and Housing department, which are basically, mandates to handle issues of infrastructure development in the district.
Roads sub sector
The roads are the most dominant mode of transport and play a pivotal role in supporting economic development in the districts. Roads traverse the whole district and connect the rural and urban areas to facilitate the movement of people and goods. The internal road network is fairly good linking all the three counties to the district headquarters in Moroto. The main road networks enter the District from south (Lorengedwat–Nadunget road), west (Katakwi-Iriir), and the north (Kotido –Lopeei road). The other main road enters Moroto District near Abim to the west (from Lira District) and is more popular with travelers than other access routes. The district has a total road network of 382km. This network is basically for the feeder roads and the sub counties are responsible for the community access roads. The table below summarizes the various categories of roads 354 km.
Roads and Environment
Road construction brings development in an area; however its construction impacts negatively on the environment hence the need to have it mainstreamed. Road works in the protected areas such as reserves affects the ecosystems, vegetation resources and social environment such as houses, public institutions among others. It also creates change in drainage, land use patterns, the landscape and human settlement along. It creates dust that impacts negatively health wise.
In general road construction leads to dust, sound pollution, loss of vegetation, erosion, drainage into agricultural land and disruption of livelihoods. The sector has therefore designed mitigation measures among which include:
Borrow pits; after the extraction of gravel material the borrow pit are restored to ensure proper run off of water and replace top soil to enable vegetation growth.
Soil erosion; this is controlled through de-silting of roadside channels and planting of grass to road embankments.
Loss of agricultural soil; Borrow pits are limited to the worked on alignment and also minimizing re-alignment.
Dust hazard; Sprinkling with water during construction and erection of speed humps.
Siltation of wet land; Works more so at the drainage structure construction provides gabion works to avoid soil erosion into the wet land.
Management of quarries; during the extraction of gravel material from the quarries, care is taken to minimize negative environment impact on the workers and the communities.
Contract document; to ensure compliance contract have specific clauses to address environmental issues.
