Kampala — The water state minister, Jennipher Namuyangu, has warned officials in Karamoja against misappropriating funds meant for developing the region.

She expressed concern that local governments in the region receive sh800m each financial year but there was nothing to show on the ground.

"What is visible on ground is only work by the development partners."

The minister made the remarks on Friday while presiding over a two-day mid-review meeting held in Mt. Moroto Hotel in Moroto district.

The meeting was attended by water officials and development partners in the sub-region.

"I speak with a lot of pain because the Government released a lot of money to Karamoja for water development," Namuyangu remarked.

She said children in Karamoja had failed to go to school because they fetch water for their parents.

"Why should you drive happily through villages when young boys are looking after animals and girls are fetching water?" the minister asked.

She also toured a solar water project by the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) in Ngoleriet sub-county in Moroto district.