MPs reject plan for dam on Murchison Falls

PARLIAMENT|MURCHISON FALLS|DAM|ENVIRONMENT

KAMPALA - Parliament has rejected plans to have a hydroelectric power dam constructed at Murchison Falls.

Parliament said the project would cause the destruction of Murchison Falls, which is one of the country's leading tourist attractions. The recommendations are in a report by Parliament's natural resources committee, led by Dr Keefa Kiwanuka.

Parliament approved the report on Thursday, Last year, there were protests from the public, environmentalists and tour operators when they learnt about the plan.

The protests prompted Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga to direct the committee to investigate the matter and report back to the House.

The committee also said various studies made in the past have all warned there would be negative consequences and danger to the environment if Murchison Falls is tampered with.

The committee discovered that contrary to claims by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Uhuru Falls and Murchison Falls are dependent on each other and, therefore, any attempt to tamper with one would certainly affect the other.

"As already demonstrated by the preliminary studies, the Uhuru Falls project will come at a high cost to the environment. Guided by these studies, the feasibility study and construction at the Murchison Falls and its Uhuru Falls should not be carried out," the committee resolved.

The committee said Cabinet had discussed the matter twice last year and rejected the plan, but later reconsidered it after a directive from the President overturning the earlier position.

Recounting incidents in the past where chairpersons of committees have been compromised to betray national interests, Busia Municipality Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Macho commended Kiwanuka and referred to the Kiboga East MP as a national hero for standing with Ugandans.

Kadaga said: "The position of this House is to stand with the Electricity Regulatory Authority and the people of Uganda." Kadaga said the company - Bonang Power and Energy Pty Limited - which wanted to establish the dam does not have an address in Uganda.

Speaking on behalf of the Government, local government minister Raphael Magyezi condemned plans to have a dam established at Murchison Falls.