By Shivan Ayebare
Rukiga District MPs Kiconco Patrick Katabazi and Dr Sylvia Arinaitwe have officiated at the handover of the site for the Kyondo Solar-Powered Irrigation Scheme in Kyondo Village, Nyakashebeya Parish, Kashambya Sub-county.
The project is valued at Shs320 million and is being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment with financing from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, BADEA.
Dr Arinaitwe said plans for the project date back to 2017, but implementation had stalled.
She said she recently joined MP Kiconco and Rukiga District LC5 Chairperson Simon Rwamagyenda in following up the matter with the Ministry of Water and Environment Permanent Secretary, Dr Alfred Okidi.
According to Arinaitwe, the leaders were asked to submit their request in writing, after which the project was cleared to proceed.
She said they are also following up on a Shs5 billion irrigation scheme pledged by President Yoweri Museveni for Rukiga District after residents agreed to leave wetlands.
MPs call for joint lobbying
MP Kiconco said cooperation between MPs and district leaders was important in securing projects for Rukiga.
He said the Kyondo scheme was one of several projects that had stalled and needed follow-up.
“You have heard that this project was initiated in 2017. It means that there are other stalled projects that require our attention, and we will not stop speaking about them,” Kiconco said.
He added that leaders were also lobbying for more electricity projects across the district, including improved access in Nyakashebeya Parish.
Scheme to serve 96 smallholdings
Project consultant Eng. Apollo Lumara of M/S Alliance Consultants Ltd said part of the BADEA financing will provide irrigation facilities for 96 smallholdings in Northern, Central and Western Uganda.
He said Kyondo is among eight priority irrigation sites in Western Uganda.
Construction is expected to take four months, with the contract awarded to M/s Fortune Engineering Services Ltd.
The scheme will include a water reservoir, with water distributed to farms by gravity through hydrants.
Farmers to access interest-free loans
Joseph Baraza, Regional Manager at the Microfinance Support Centre, said farmers under the project will also be able to access interest-free loans.
He said the money will not be handed directly to farmers in cash. Instead, approved financing will be paid to suppliers of farm equipment and other agricultural inputs.
RDC asks residents to support project
Rukiga Resident District Commissioner Zaddok Kamusiime thanked the MPs for following up development projects in the district.
He asked residents to support the contractor during construction and report any problems they may encounter.
Kamusiime said the irrigation scheme is expected to support farming and increase household incomes in the area.
