Egypt gives Shs15 billion to stop Kasese floods

Kampala- The Egyptian minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Prof Hossam Moghazy, arrived in the country on a three-day visit on Tuesday and is expected to sign a grant agreement of $4.5 million (about Shs15 billion) aimed at mitigating flooding in Kasese District.

Every rainy season, River Nyamwamba on the slopes of Mt Rwenzori bursts its banks, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The Egyptian government, which had earlier offered $1.5 million (about Shs4 billion) to facilitate the project feasibility study, will now undertake the project.

“I am happy to announce that after our technical assessment, Egypt is increasing the funding of the Kasese project from $1.5 million to $4.5 million. We realised that the initial offer could not do a good job,” Prof Hossam said while meeting Water and Environment minister Ephraim Kamuntu at his offices in Luzira, Kampala.

Dr Hossam said the project is expected to be completed in five months and that Arab Constructors Ltd will undertake the construction work.

“River Nyamwamba channel is to be constructed with protective bearers against public installations such as schools and Kilembe Hospital. Water tank reservoirs are also to be built to harvest the floods for domestic use,” he explained.
Egypt and Uganda signed a memorandum of understanding on January1 2, 2010, for procurement of equipment for construction of valley tanks, drilling and preparing of 75 ground water boreholes, training and capacity building component.

Dr Hossam said so far, 70 boreholes have been constructed and the remaining five are to be completed by next April. He also commissioned boreholes in Kayunga District.
Prof Kamuntu hailed Egypt for its generosity.
“Kasese project is to implement a fast action flood mitigation measures and interventions in the most flood prone areas, and to control floods to avert disasters where they occurred on Rwenzori Sub Region,” he said.

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