Busaana-Kayunga water project stalls over funds

Passengers and trucks disemabrk from a ferry in Kayunga town recently. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

Blamed. The managers blame the delay in completion of the project on the delay by government to release funds for the job.

Kayunga. Government’s delay to release funds meant for the completion of the first phase of the Busaana-Kayunga piped water project is hampering the project’s progress, Daily Monitor has established.

According to officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment, government has so far released only Shs4.5b out of the planned Shs12b for the project that was to be completed in August.
“The construction works have delayed because of cash flow constraint. We appeal to you to remain patient and supportive of this project as we await the release of funds from the government,” Mr Paul Kato, the central regional branch manager for water and sanitation development facility in the Water ministry, said in an interview last Saturday.

He projected that because of the slow cash flows from the central government, the project might be completed in June next year.
The construction works of the project kicked off late last year.

Zhonghao Overseas Construction Engineering Co. Ltd was contracted by government to construct the piped water system, which will draw water from River Nile.
The site manager, Mr Lyu Jintao, said so far, 60 per cent of the works had been completed.
“We are committed to doing a good job despite the cash flow constraints. If the funds are released in time, we hope to complete this first phase in June next year,” he said.
Construction of a water treatment plant, water tank and houses have so far been done, and are only waiting completion.

Registration of beneficiaries
Mr Kato said they are registering residents in Kasana Trading Centre, Busaana Sub–county, who would like to access piped water after paying a connection fee of Shs100,000.

Ntenjeru North MP Amos Lugoloobi noted that under the first phase, piped water would be extended to Kasana, Busaana and surrounding areas, while under the second phase that is expected to start in 2019, it would be extended to Kayunga, Kasawo and Kamuli towns.

He added that scarcity of water in the area was also responsible for the increasing cases of defilement and teenage pregnancies as girls trek long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources.

Kayunga District, which was carved out of Mukono District in December 2000, became operation on July 1, 2001. It has a population of 368,062 people spread in eight sub-counties and one town council.

Water coverage in Kayunga
Currently, the water coverage in the district stands at 71 per cent, with only about 11 per cent of the population having access to piped water, according to Mr Robert Drate, the district water officer.

However, the 2014 National Population and Housing Census revealed that only 256 households in the district have access to piped water, while 20,854 households draw water from boreholes.

Most of the households with access to piped water are in Kayunga, Kangulumira and Nazigo towns. However, the water is not good enough for domestic use as it is said to be hard and yellowish. Hard water is the type of water containing a high mineral count.

Groundwater often percolates through limestone where it picks up calcium and magnesium deposits.
Most residents in Busaana Sub-county and those along River Nile use untreated water directly from the water source, while others share water with animals.