PIC: President Yoweri Museveni during the commissioning of the water project

President Museveni has launched a multi-billion water project in Agu Ngora sub-county, Ngora district.

The project that will cost sh25.4b is being implemented by Chinese company M/s China Geo Engeneering Corporaion and funded by the World Bank, together with the government of Uganda.

The project works have so far reached 40% and it is expected to be complete by June next year.

While launching the project, President Museveni urged the people of Teso, especially those in Ngora, Nyero and Kumi to take advantage of this water to improve on their farm production.

He said the coming of piped water to the district of Ngora and Kumi will solve the problems of water crisis, which was making the people to drink unclean water leading to diseases.

The President also commended the Woman MP for Ngora, Jacqueline Amongin, for empowering communities by training them on non formal skills.

Museveni pledged sh50M for the women groups in Ngora district and passed out over 5,000 farmers who have been undergoing trainings on jelly and soap making, piggery and poultry.

He also commissioned four ambulances bought by Amongin for the people of Ngora district. He thanked Amongin for supplementing government programmes by providing ambulances which facilitate referrals of patients.

The president also launched rural electrification in Akisim village, Kapir sub-county in Ngora district and encouraged locals there to take advantage of the power to do business.

Meanwhile, the minister for water and environment Sam Cheptoris said Agu River was identified following the dier need of clean water by the people of Ngora, Nyero and Kumi.

"For years now, the People of those areas have not been having access to enough clean water, but with the coming of this project, over 153,000 people will by having clean water by the year 2040", the minister said.

The minister urged the people of Ngora to protect the water source and avoid wetland degradation, so as to ensure sustainability of the project in the area.

"It is important that the leaders in this area smake sure that the people are sensitised on matters of wetland management so that this wetland is kept intact", the minister said.

Amongin urged the contractor to extend piped water to all the areas in Ngora district including, Mukura, Kapir and Kobuin, an idea the president considered.

She said people of Ngora and Kumi have difficulties in search of clean water, especially during the dry seaso,n where a jerican of water is sold between Shs 100-2000.

According to Eng Richard Matua of ministry of water and environment, the government of the republic of Uganda received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the implementation of the water management and development. The project is aims at contruction of new, improving and expansion of existing water supply in both small and large towns.

PIC: The President also commissioned four ambulances bought by Ngora Woman MP Jacqueline Amongin

The Ngora-Nyero-Kumi town water supply and sanitation project is so far estimated to benefit over 58,000 locals in the two districts and over 153,000 by the year 2040.

The RDC Ngora, John Henry Ariong urged locals to embrace the project for their own good. He said that the project is aimed at improving the lives obeen trecking forlong distances insearch of clean water.

However, the district chairperson Ngora, Ben Eumu said, the coming of the project will solve issues of domestic violence which have been common over water crisis in the district. He says men have been beating up their women suspecting them of having extra marital relationship especially when women delay from the few available water sources.

Eumu said, the project will boost up development in the two districts of Ngora and Kumi because many people will have access to water for construction. Eumu of FDC party commends the NRM party government under the leadership of president Museveni for bringing what he described as big achievement for his as the district chairperson Ngora.

However, the district chairperson Kumi, Christine Apolot says as leaders, they will keenly supervise the implemention of the project till its completion.

PIC: Museveni inspecting stalls

"We want to see there is transparency in the implementation process and that there is value for money", Apolot said.

Immaculate Akiteng of Agu village commended government for bring the project saying this will now relief them from the domestic violence.

"We have been suffering a lot, walking for long distances insearch of clean water and sharing drinking water with animals. But the coming of this project will relief us", Akiteng said.

Emmanule Opolot said, when the project is completed, they expect free water and not again charging them money for water.

The project manager M/s China Geo Engineering Corpotation, Licing Wuxin said they expect to complete the work in time.

"We are very serious on this project and we promise to do our best to ensure work is completed in time", Wuxing said.

The water treatment plant will be constructed in Agu water supply which will be pumped to the three big water tanks in the areas of Kobuku, Nyero and Kumi municipality.

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