Uganda’s NSWC to take over construction of Kahengye water project

Uganda’s National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NSWC) is set to take over the construction of the stalled Kahengye water project.

This follows concerns raised by NSWC Managing Director Dr Silver Mugisha over delayed completion of a multi-billion shilling gravity water flow project. The US $12m World Bank and government funded water project kicked off in July 2016 and was undertaken by an Indian firm, Technofab Engineering Services.

The project was commissioned by president Yoweri. Five years down the line, the project has never been completed sparking frustration. Only 35% of the civil works had been done with the contractor asking for more time. According to the MD, he has agreed with the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of water to give NWSC a letter, which authorises it to take over project and complete it in time.

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Providing safe water

“I am completely disappointed that the project that is supposed to provide water to the people of Rukungiri has delayed to this extent. At first, the contractor had some challenges and government took all the measures to resolve them. We made all the necessary extensions of contract but they still delayed for more than a year. It has been years now since they told us they were extending water to Rwerere but we have not even seen anyone trying to excavate a tunnel,” said Dr Mugisha.

The water project is set to provide safe water in the sub-counties of Kebisoni, Buyanja, Rukungiri municipality, Bugangari and Nyakagyeme all in Rukungiri district and some parts of Ntungamo district. The scheme is expected to benefit more than120,000 people.

According to NWSC, the project is expected to produce 9.6 million litres of water daily to solve the water problem in Rukungiri district. Currently, only 600,000 litters of water is produced daily out of the required 3 million litres; a situation that leaves many families in Rukungiri without the precious commodity.