Statistics obtained from the ministry indicates that in 1990, Uganda had 24 percent of forest cover but due to the escalating illegal activities including deforestation and population growth that has forced people to encroach on forest reserve land to carry out cultivation, this has drastically reduced the forest cover to 12.7 percent currently. The illegal activities are adversely impacting on the forest cover in the country.
Godfrey Byarugaba, a Senior Engineer in the department of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in the ministry of Water and Environment explains that, the Key components of the project include the installation of solar panels to facilitate water pumping from the source to
Geoffrey Ouni, the general secretary Irrigation Water User Association and a farmer at the irrigation scheme attributed the farmer’s low uptake of the project to rat infestation and flooding of the farmland.
Commissioner Latim Joel confirmed the initiative during community consultations on 29 November 2024 in Kalangore Parish, Pukor Sub-County, and Awalmon Parish, Pajule Town Council. During the consultations, residents identified tree planting, road construction, and dam digging as their top priorities, which the ministry pledged to support.
The multi-billion water projects such as Kobebe in Moroto, Arechek in Napak, Longoromit in Kaabong, Kaomeri in Abim, and Kailong in Kotido which were constructed between 2009 and 2011 are now silted due to the poor management by the pastoral communities.
River Enyau, which is one of the main water body’s in the sub-region covers parts of Arua, Terego, Madi Okollo, Maracha, and Koboko districts including Arua City.
Up to 9,000 people were displaced in Kasese when major rivers including Nyamwamba and Mubuku burst their banks washing away gardens, homes, and key infrastructure across the district last year.
Hellen Acen, another resident from Palubara Village says that she will be relieved of the burden of traveling over eight miles to the neighboring Namukora Sub County in search of clean drinking water.
Michael Lakony, the LCV Chairperson Amuru, says that their quest and constant plea with the community to offer them land for the construction has been met with resistance since 2019 leaving them helpless.
Frank Minhu, the Project Manager says that in the past months, unknown people have cut off water pipes laid in trenches while others siphoned fuel from their trucks.
Alem Kidega, a resident of Oloyo Mung village told URN this morning that during the tour, he discovered that the local community wasn’t benefiting from Agoro Irrigation Scheme, adding that many of them were negative about the project. He also says that those using the scheme pay Shillings 50,000 and have since lost their land rights.
