Ministers and government technocrats from the ten Nile Basin countries raised concern that transboundary investments along the River Nile water resources have either stalled or not going on as planned because of a lack of financial resources. Water and Environment Ministry Permanent Secretary, Alfred Okot Okidi, speaking on behalf of Uganda said the investments would have ensured benefits like food production, energy generation and water security.
Nile Day commemorates the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative, and is celebrated annually on the 22nd of February across Nile basin countries riparian states.
Water and Environment Minister, Sam Cheptoris told Uganda Radio Network that he had received a communication from his Egyptian counterpart protesting against the way Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat in Uganda is handling the process. But Cheptoris, the Outgoing Nile Council of Ministers chairman did not reveal any further details on the alleged protest from the Egyptian Authorities.
The Nile Basin Initiative has been running under 2012 2016 Action Plans. The Ministers at the Entebbe meeting will agree on a new strategy for the period 20172027.
The two-day deliberations in Kampala and Entebbe were aimed at rallying all the 11 Nile Basin countries to own the controversial Entebbe Agreement also known as the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement CFA.
