The project, which was scheduled to serve 40000 people in the district was to be implemented in Butungama Bweramule, Rwebisengo, Kanara sub-counties, and Kanara, Kibuku, and Rwebisengo town councils over a period of three years. However, the project stalled in 2020 barely after the completion of the first phase.
The delayed completion of the 89 billion Shillings water project in Ntoroko has raised concern from the district authorities. In 2018, the African Development Bank through the Ministry
of Water and Environment launched the construction of the project to supply clean
and safe water to six sub-counties in the lowlands of the district.
The project, which was scheduled to serve 40,000 people in the district was to be implemented in Butungama Bweramule, Rwebisengo, Kanara sub counties, and Kanara, Kibuku, and Rwebisengo town councils over a period of three years. However, the project stalled in 2020 barely after the completion
of the first phase.
William Kasoro, the Ntoroko district chairman says the second phase of the project has
failed to commence since 2020 despite the fact that it is fully funded.
//Cue in" "This water supply…
Cue out: at the district headquarters,”//
Kasoro says by the time the project stalled more than
four of the beneficiary sub-counties were yet to be connected to the water
supply. He says despite their repeated reminders to the
ministry of water and environment officials on the matter nothing has been done to complete the project.
//Cue in: "So we don’t know what they intend…
Cue out:....safe and clean water,”//
Charles Otai, the Ntoroko Chief Administrative Officer, says that the first phase of the project was completed in 2020 after several
interruptions caused by floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. He explains that the district is still waiting for communication
from the ministry of water and environment on when the work will
resume.
Engineer Jamil Wesigomwe from the Ministry of Water
and Environment, who is also the project manager told the Uganda Radio Network that
the project has not stalled. He explained that they are working on the project in phases and the first phase cost Shillings 30 billion.
Wesigomwe says the second phase which was calculated to cost 60 billion Shillings could not commence after the African Development Bank pulled out
of the project. He explains that the ministry of water and environment
and the National Water and Sewage Cooperation have taken up the project and will soon resume work on the project when funds are readily available.
Mwesige Joel
Freelancer
