Sh311 million dam project to bring relief to Nyakatonzi cattle keepers

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For many years, prolonged droughts have been a major challenge for cattle keepers in Nyakatonzi sub-county, Kasese district, leaving approximately 750 cows dead annually due to a lack of water and pasture.

According to Kenneth Mugamba, the Muhumuza-Nyakatonzi Cattle Keepers Co-operative Society chairperson, the community is now facing two severe dry spells annually, one in each half of the year. He added that losing even one cow is a tragedy to them.

"The impact extends to milk production, which plummets dramatically—from over 1,500 litres to as low as 500 litres across the entire sub-county. This cripples the livelihoods of pastoralists who rely on dairy farming as their primary source of income," Mugamba said.

Mugamba added that while the government constructed three valley dams in 2019 to address water shortages, they often remain empty. The issue lies upstream, where crop farmers divert water for irrigation, blocking the streams that feed the dams.

Ray of hope

In a bid to address the challenge, the Kasese district local government has launched construction works for a water dam in the affected lower local government area, aimed at enabling cattle farmers to access water for both livestock and crop growing.

Basongora pastoralists worried of losing more of their animals as cows struggle to get drinking water at on of the drinking points. (Photo by Samuel Amanyire)

The project, named “Water Transmission Line”, will extend from River Nyamughasana and will be constructed in Nyamugasani parish at a cost of more than sh311 million.

The funds to implement the project have been secured from the United Nations Capital Development Fund under the Local Climate Adaptive Facility programme.

Kasese district assistant engineer, Alphose Katswamba, on April 17, 2026, told community members during the launch that the dam will accommodate an estimated 80,000-litre water tank and two cattle drinking troughs.

"The challenge of water scarcity will be history because we are going to tap water from a permanent river, not a seasonal one, which couldn't ably serve the existing valley dams," Katswamba said.

However, he noted that the water would not be safe for human consumption since it was tested and found to contain bacteria.

Local leaders speak out

Jerevesious Monday Bwambale, the outgoing Kasese district vice chairperson, said the council was concerned about the rate at which herds of cattle were dying, prompting the decision to allocate funds to construct the dam to mitigate animal deaths.

Betty Karoko, the Kasese district secretary for production and marketing, who also doubles as the woman councillor representing Nyakatonzi subcounty and Kinyamaseke town council, welcomed the project, saying it will help restore livelihoods.

"Our animals will no longer die, and milk production is going to increase so that we can cater for the needs of our families," Karoko said.

Karoko, however, noted that the entire sub-county depends on cattle keeping as its main source of income, with a population of over 50,000 animals, hence the need to install more dams in the area.