Agric. & Environment
Water ministry tasks local leaders on Karuma Dam safety
Oyam District chairperson Nelson Adea Akar called upon residents who remain within the 100-metre buffer zone to vacate immediately in order to protect their lives.
Residents in Oyam District who remain within the 100-metre buffer zone have been called upon to vacate immediately in order to protect their lives. (File photo)
By: Michael Odeng, Journalist @New Vision
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The Water and Environment Ministry has tasked leaders in districts surrounding Karuma Dam to integrate dam-related risks into their disaster preparedness and contingency plans as a way of enhancing its safety.
The ministry called upon districts to regularly update their emergency contact databases, strengthen public awareness programmes, and continuously conduct simulation exercises and drills to maintain readiness.
The call was made by the ministry’s Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources Planning and Management, Eng. Dominic Banaga Mucunguzi, during the 8th District Stakeholder Awareness Workshop on the Safety and Emergency Preparedness for the 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Plant.
The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) organised the workshop at Nwoya District headquarters on June 16.
The workshop is the first in a series of district engagements scheduled to take place between June 16 and 25, in Nwoya, Oyam and Kiryandongo districts, which surround Karuma Dam.
Mucunguzi called for strengthened coordination, communication and preparedness among district stakeholders to enhance dam safety and emergency response around Karuma dam.
He noted that effective emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility involving government institutions, dam operators, local governments, security agencies, community leaders and the public.
“Preparedness is about knowing, coordinating and acting before an emergency occurs. The absence of disaster is not a matter of luck; it is the result of vigilance, planning, communication and teamwork,” Mucunguzi noted.
The workshop is the first in a series of district engagements scheduled to take place between June 16 and 25, in Nwoya, Oyam and Kiryandongo districts, which surround Karuma Dam.
Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources, Planning and Management, Eng. Dominic Banaga Mucunguzi. (Courtesy photo)
Mucunguzi called for strengthened coordination, communication and preparedness among district stakeholders to enhance dam safety and emergency response around Karuma dam.
He noted that effective emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility involving government institutions, dam operators, local governments, security agencies, community leaders and the public.
“Preparedness is about knowing, coordinating and acting before an emergency occurs. The absence of disaster is not a matter of luck; it is the result of vigilance, planning, communication and teamwork,” Mucunguzi noted.
He highlighted the strategic importance of Karuma Hydropower plant, saying it plays a critical role in Uganda's socio-economic development.
While the dam was designed, constructed and is operated according to internationally accepted standards, Mucunguzi stressed that continuous preparedness remains essential to safeguard communities, property, livelihoods and the environment.
He revealed that the Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Directorate of Water Resources Management, is mandated to regulate dam safety in Uganda.
To strengthen this function, he said government established a dedicated Dam Safety Unit responsible for dam safety monitoring, inspections, compliance oversight and stakeholder coordination.
The workshop brought together representatives from UEGCL, district local governments, security agencies, community leaders, and opinion leaders to review emergency preparedness arrangements and strengthen coordination mechanisms in the event of a dam-related emergency.
During the meeting, a practical tabletop exercise designed to refresh stakeholders on emergency notification procedures and communication protocols was conducted.
The participants also reviewed notification charts, clarified institutional roles and responsibilities, and discussed response actions required during different emergency scenarios.
Thereafter, Mucunguzi emphasised that preparedness begins at the local level, with communities, district leaders and technical officers playing a critical role in emergency response.
“Leadership saves lives, particularly through timely decision-making and coordination during emergencies. Effective communication is essential, with notification systems only functioning when stakeholders understand their roles and maintain updated contact information,” he said.
He noted that strong coordination among stakeholders, including the ministry, UEGCL, district local governments, security agencies, and communities is necessary to build resilience and ensure effective emergency response.
Local leaders welcomed the ongoing dam safety awareness programme and called for stronger community preparedness, continuous engagement and responsible management of resources associated with the power plant.
Yusuf Akubonabona, the Nwoya district Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, commended the initiative and emphasised the need to complement awareness workshops with practical field simulation exercises.
He noted that hands-on drills would enable leaders and communities to better understand emergency procedures and their respective roles during a dam-related incident.
Oyam District chairperson Nelson Adea Akar called upon residents who remain within the 100-metre buffer zone to vacate immediately in order to protect their lives.
He commended UEGCL for the royalties remitted to the district and appealed to the Ministry of Water and Environment to consider extending safe water services to underserved communities in the district.
Oyam Deputy Resident District Commissioner Francis Behanaga urged district leaders to ensure that revenues and royalties received from Karuma Hydropower Plant are utilised transparently and effectively to support socio-economic development.
About Karuma Dam
Karuma hydropower station is strategically situated on the Kyoga Nile, upstream of River Nile, the longest river in the world. The station is approximately 2.5 km from the downstream Masindi-Gulu highway, 75 km from the northern city of Gulu, and 270 km from the capital city, Kampala.
Located downstream of Lake Kyoga and Lake Victoria, Karuma hydropower station commenced commercial operations on June 12, 2024.
While the dam was designed, constructed and is operated according to internationally accepted standards, Mucunguzi stressed that continuous preparedness remains essential to safeguard communities, property, livelihoods and the environment.
He revealed that the Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Directorate of Water Resources Management, is mandated to regulate dam safety in Uganda.
To strengthen this function, he said government established a dedicated Dam Safety Unit responsible for dam safety monitoring, inspections, compliance oversight and stakeholder coordination.
The workshop brought together representatives from UEGCL, district local governments, security agencies, community leaders, and opinion leaders to review emergency preparedness arrangements and strengthen coordination mechanisms in the event of a dam-related emergency.
During the meeting, a practical tabletop exercise designed to refresh stakeholders on emergency notification procedures and communication protocols was conducted.
The participants also reviewed notification charts, clarified institutional roles and responsibilities, and discussed response actions required during different emergency scenarios.
Thereafter, Mucunguzi emphasised that preparedness begins at the local level, with communities, district leaders and technical officers playing a critical role in emergency response.
“Leadership saves lives, particularly through timely decision-making and coordination during emergencies. Effective communication is essential, with notification systems only functioning when stakeholders understand their roles and maintain updated contact information,” he said.
He noted that strong coordination among stakeholders, including the ministry, UEGCL, district local governments, security agencies, and communities is necessary to build resilience and ensure effective emergency response.
Local leaders welcomed the ongoing dam safety awareness programme and called for stronger community preparedness, continuous engagement and responsible management of resources associated with the power plant.
Yusuf Akubonabona, the Nwoya district Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, commended the initiative and emphasised the need to complement awareness workshops with practical field simulation exercises.
He noted that hands-on drills would enable leaders and communities to better understand emergency procedures and their respective roles during a dam-related incident.
Oyam District chairperson Nelson Adea Akar called upon residents who remain within the 100-metre buffer zone to vacate immediately in order to protect their lives.
He commended UEGCL for the royalties remitted to the district and appealed to the Ministry of Water and Environment to consider extending safe water services to underserved communities in the district.
Oyam Deputy Resident District Commissioner Francis Behanaga urged district leaders to ensure that revenues and royalties received from Karuma Hydropower Plant are utilised transparently and effectively to support socio-economic development.
About Karuma Dam
Karuma hydropower station is strategically situated on the Kyoga Nile, upstream of River Nile, the longest river in the world. The station is approximately 2.5 km from the downstream Masindi-Gulu highway, 75 km from the northern city of Gulu, and 270 km from the capital city, Kampala.
Located downstream of Lake Kyoga and Lake Victoria, Karuma hydropower station commenced commercial operations on June 12, 2024.