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Davinia Esther Anyakun, the state minister for Disaster, Preparedness, and Refugees is optimistic that the 65m euros (about sh73, 560,736.48) Kagera water project will address water scarcity to the refugees in Nakivale and Oruchinga settlements in Isingiro district. 

“This is a very big investment and we are proud that the project is at almost 45% and there is a lot of work going on, we look forward to coming here for the commissioning of the project in 2024, according to the project manager,” she said. 

The minister is optimistic that the project will address the scarcity of water for 155,123 refugees hosted in Oruchinga and Nakivale settlements and the host community will come to an end, noting that fortunately, the same treatment plant will take water to Mbarara City. 

On Thursday, the minister hosted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) country representative (Uganda), Matthew Crents’il, and ambassadors for France and Japan to assess the progress of projects funded by their countries in settlement.

Government secured a loan from Agence Française de Development (AFD), a French Development Agency to construct a water treatment plant along river Kagera in Kikagate to address the scarcity of water in Isingiro district and Mbarara City. 

The Progress for the construction of a water treatment plant for the Kagera water project in Kikagate, Isingiro district. (All Photos by Fred Turyakira)

The project being implemented by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and the Ministry of Water and Environment, was contracted to SOGEA SATOM Uganda in JV with Vinci Construction Grand Projects. 

Eng Jackson Nimusiima, the project manager from the National Water and Sewerage Corporation for the Kagera water project, said the project started with the signing of the contract in May 2022 and is expected to end in August 2024. 

He explained that the project has two components for drinking water that will produce 30,000 cubic meters per day, while the other water for irrigation projects will produce 70,000 cubic meters per day. 

Nimusiima assured the public that the two components will not drain the river, saying, they are only taking less than 2% from the river including water for Irrigation. 

He urged people to stop politicking that Isingiro people will not benefit from Kagera water project, explaining that the component with the distribution network for Isingiro district is beginning in February 2024. 

“Isingiro people will benefit from the water project taking 18,000 cubic meters per day. It is only 12000 cubic meters per day, which is going to Mbarara. You cannot say that Isingiro people won’t benefit,” Eng Nimusiima explained.