Agric. & Environment
Over 62,000 residents benefit from Govt solar-powered water project
The project, implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment under its Rural Water Department with funding from the Government of Uganda and the Indian Exim Bank, was officially handed over to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) for operation.
Shartsi Kutesa Musherura, former Mawogola North MP and newly appointed minister (in yellow), joins Godfrey Aine Kaguta Sodo, the current Mawogola North MP, during the commissioning of a newly completed sh9b solar-powered water facility in Sembabule District on Friday. The project is a partnership between the governments of Uganda and India. (Credit: Rhyman Agaba)
By: Rhyman Agaba and Ibrahim Ruhweza, Journalists @New Vision
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More than 62,000 residents in the cattle corridor of Sembabule District are set to benefit from a Government-funded solar-powered water project that has delivered 180 kilometres of piped water across three sub-counties.
The project, implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment under its Rural Water Department with funding from the Government of Uganda and the Indian Exim Bank, was officially handed over to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) for operation.
The launch in Mijwala sub-county was presided over by Godfrey Aine Kaguta Sodo, the Member of Parliament for Mawogola North Constituency, and Shartsi Kutesa Musherura, the Minister in charge of Monitoring Government Programmes and former MP for Mawogola North.
Shartsi Kutesa Musherura, former Mawogola North MP and newly appointed minister (in yellow). (Credit: Rhyman Agaba)
Speaking during the handover, Eng. Umaru Ssekabemba, Senior Engineer at the Ministry of Water and Environment, said the project targets sub-counties with safe water coverage below 50 per cent.
"We commenced construction in June 2024 and have substantially completed the works within 24 months," Ssekabemba said.
He explained that the project serves Mijwala, Mitima and Lugusulu sub-counties, covering 12 parishes and 54 villages through two solar-powered booster stations connected to the NWSC network.
According to Ssekabemba, the project includes two nine-kilowatt solar pumping stations, two 150-cubic-metre elevated reservoirs, 180 kilometres of distribution pipelines, more than 90 household yard taps and 21 public standposts.
"In summary, we have served over 51 villages within Mawogola North and two neighbouring villages, reaching more than 62,000 people. The system also has capacity to connect more users in future," he said.
He added that the entire project cost approximately sh2.4 billion and has now been handed over to NWSC's Sembabule Branch for management.
The initiative forms part of a national programme that will extend similar solar-powered water systems to 20 districts, 26 sub-counties and more than 600 villages, benefiting an estimated 460,000 people.
The beneficiary districts include Yumbe, Amudat, Kaabong, Buvuma, Buyende, Namayingo, Kyankwanzi, Mityana, Rakai, Sembabule, Buliisa, Kasese, Kibaale, Mubende, Kassanda, Lyantonde and Kisoro.
Residents welcomed the project, saying it will end years of dependence on unsafe water sources.
Gerald Mukasa, Local Council Chairperson of Miti Village, said residents had endured severe water shortages.
"We have been drinking water together with cows because ponds dried up. This project has solved a long-standing problem, including for the nearly 2,000 people in our trading centre," he said.
Edward Senkindu, Local Council Chairperson of Kyabafiisa Village, who also represents Kasekelo and Nsonga villages, appealed to government to reduce water tariffs.
"My residents have struggled with water. I thank President Museveni for bringing clean water to our villages. We also thank MP Sodo and other district leaders for lobbying for this project," he said.
Hajji Nazir Damulira, LC3 Chairperson of Mijwala Sub-county, commended President Yoweri Museveni for extending clean water services to the area.
Eng. David Bateganya, Project Supervisor in the Rural Water Department at the Ministry of Water and Environment, confirmed that contractor Shakti Pumps India Ltd had completed all the works.
"I congratulate the people of Mijwala. We have been dealing with long queues of residents seeking water connections. I encourage everyone to acquire household taps, and I thank the governments of Uganda and India for making this project possible," he said.
Joshua Ruhweza, Branch Manager of NWSC Sembabule, urged residents to report water-related challenges promptly and warned against paying illegal charges for new connections.
"Do not pay surveyors any extra money because they are paid by NWSC. Do not be deceived that the manager wants sh100,000 to give you a water connection," he cautioned, while also urging residents to report vandalised or leaking pipes.
Patrick Nkalubo, Chairperson of Sembabule District, advised households to store sufficient water during supply interruptions and appealed to President Museveni to provide the district with equipment for water system maintenance.
Representing the President, Jane Kagayi, Resident District Commissioner for Sembabule, urged residents to protect the infrastructure.
"It is your responsibility to protect these gains. If a pipe passes through your garden, do not vandalise it. Use this water wisely and spare women and girls the risks of walking long distances to fetch water," she said.
MP Godfrey Aine Kaguta Sodo credited Shartsi Kutesa Musherura for initiating the project during her tenure as legislator.
"We thank Hon. Shartsi because this project started during her time, although I will take credit for bringing it to completion," he said.
Sodo pledged to improve roads in the constituency beginning next year, saying he was pursuing additional road equipment while assuring residents that at least 60 percent of the constituency would now have access to clean piped water.
For her part, Shartsi Kutesa Musherura, Minister in charge of Monitoring Government Programmes, thanked President Museveni for prioritising service delivery.
"I thank President Museveni for his commitment to transforming Uganda and for entrusting me with monitoring government programmes. I am excited to witness the completion of this project," she said as she commended the contractor and urged NWSC to manage the system transparently.
The initiative forms part of a national programme that will extend similar solar-powered water systems to 20 districts, 26 sub-counties and more than 600 villages, benefiting an estimated 460,000 people.
The beneficiary districts include Yumbe, Amudat, Kaabong, Buvuma, Buyende, Namayingo, Kyankwanzi, Mityana, Rakai, Sembabule, Buliisa, Kasese, Kibaale, Mubende, Kassanda, Lyantonde and Kisoro.
Residents welcomed the project, saying it will end years of dependence on unsafe water sources.
Gerald Mukasa, Local Council Chairperson of Miti Village, said residents had endured severe water shortages.
"We have been drinking water together with cows because ponds dried up. This project has solved a long-standing problem, including for the nearly 2,000 people in our trading centre," he said.
Edward Senkindu, Local Council Chairperson of Kyabafiisa Village, who also represents Kasekelo and Nsonga villages, appealed to government to reduce water tariffs.
"My residents have struggled with water. I thank President Museveni for bringing clean water to our villages. We also thank MP Sodo and other district leaders for lobbying for this project," he said.
Hajji Nazir Damulira, LC3 Chairperson of Mijwala Sub-county, commended President Yoweri Museveni for extending clean water services to the area.
Eng. David Bateganya, Project Supervisor in the Rural Water Department at the Ministry of Water and Environment, confirmed that contractor Shakti Pumps India Ltd had completed all the works.
"I congratulate the people of Mijwala. We have been dealing with long queues of residents seeking water connections. I encourage everyone to acquire household taps, and I thank the governments of Uganda and India for making this project possible," he said.
Joshua Ruhweza, Branch Manager of NWSC Sembabule, urged residents to report water-related challenges promptly and warned against paying illegal charges for new connections.
"Do not pay surveyors any extra money because they are paid by NWSC. Do not be deceived that the manager wants sh100,000 to give you a water connection," he cautioned, while also urging residents to report vandalised or leaking pipes.
Patrick Nkalubo, Chairperson of Sembabule District, advised households to store sufficient water during supply interruptions and appealed to President Museveni to provide the district with equipment for water system maintenance.
Representing the President, Jane Kagayi, Resident District Commissioner for Sembabule, urged residents to protect the infrastructure.
"It is your responsibility to protect these gains. If a pipe passes through your garden, do not vandalise it. Use this water wisely and spare women and girls the risks of walking long distances to fetch water," she said.
MP Godfrey Aine Kaguta Sodo credited Shartsi Kutesa Musherura for initiating the project during her tenure as legislator.
"We thank Hon. Shartsi because this project started during her time, although I will take credit for bringing it to completion," he said.
Sodo pledged to improve roads in the constituency beginning next year, saying he was pursuing additional road equipment while assuring residents that at least 60 percent of the constituency would now have access to clean piped water.
For her part, Shartsi Kutesa Musherura, Minister in charge of Monitoring Government Programmes, thanked President Museveni for prioritising service delivery.
"I thank President Museveni for his commitment to transforming Uganda and for entrusting me with monitoring government programmes. I am excited to witness the completion of this project," she said as she commended the contractor and urged NWSC to manage the system transparently.