The Ministry of Water and Environment has commissioned a Sh540 million pilot water project in Kakukuru Town Council, Ntungamo District, aimed at improving water security and strengthening climate resilience.
Launched on June 30, 2026, through the Ministry’s Department of International Transboundary Water Affairs (ITWA), the project introduces Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) an innovative system that captures and stores surface water underground during rainy seasons for use during dry periods. The solar-powered facility combines surface and groundwater to ensure a reliable year-round water supply.
Representing the Permanent Secretary, Commissioner Eng. Sowed Sewagudde described the project as a game-changing, nature-based solution that offers a sustainable alternative to conventional gravity water schemes. He thanked the **Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their financial and technical support, noting that the project reflects the value of regional cooperation in addressing shared water challenges.
The facility is expected to provide safe and reliable water to about 500 households in Kakukuru and surrounding communities. Besides improving access to clean water, it will reduce the burden of water collection, enhance public health, and support local socio-economic development.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the system will be managed by the Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation in collaboration with the district local government, community leaders, and water users. The project will also serve as a national demonstration site, providing lessons for future groundwater recharge initiatives in water-stressed areas.
Assistant Commissioner Wycliffe Tumwebaze highlighted the strong partnership between the Government of Uganda, NBI, and UNDP, which has enabled similar projects in Ntungamo and Bulambuli districts. He noted that the scheme has a treatment system with direct chlorine dosing and a current production capacity of 2.5 cubic metres per hour, with potential to increase to 3.5 cubic metres per hour as demand grows.
NBI Deputy Executive Director Dr Abraha Adugna described the project as a pilot technology with the potential to expand across Uganda and the other Nile Basin member states. He said it supports **Sustainable Development Goal 6 and Agenda 2063 by promoting access to safe water and sustainable resource management.
NBI Project Team Leader Dr Maha Abdelraheem praised the community for protecting the project during construction, while UNDP Technical Specialist Collins Tonny Biryomumaiso urged stakeholders to manage the facility well to support the rollout of similar projects nationwide.
Residents welcomed the initiative, saying it has transformed their lives. Adella Orishaba, a mother of two, said the project has ended long walks to distant swamps for unsafe water, giving families more time for productive activities. Local leader Naboth Ninsiima described the project as a life-saving improvement over dangerous ponds and called for proper maintenance.
District leaders, including Vice Chairperson Asuman Kigongo, Resident District Commissioner Miriam Kagaiga Mugisha, District Water Officer Prosper Butubuura, Chief Administrative Officer Fidelis Kiiza, and District Natural Resources Officer Dinah Tumwebaze, praised the Ministry, NBI, and UNDP for the investment. They pledged continued support for the project’s operation and maintenance while encouraging communities to protect natural resources such as wetlands to ensure sustainable water supplies.
