Shs27b irrigation scheme lies idle 6 years after launch

Communities surrounding the multi-billion Agoro Irrigation Scheme in Lamwo District are concerned over its non-functionality since it was last commissioned in 2013.
Between 2012 and 2013, the Ministry of Water and Environment injected Shs27 billion into rehabilitating the irrigation scheme located in Agoro Sub-county in order to boost agricultural productivity in the area.

However, since it was commissioned by then State minister for Water Betty Bigombe, who handed it over to members of Agoro Self-help Irrigation Cooperative Society Ltd, the facility has not been able to meet the production needs of the farmers as water does not reach the farmlands.

When Daily Monitor visited the project site last week, water dams, channels and distribution points could be seen abandoned. Constructed with funding from World Bank, the scheme is designed to tap water from the hills to irrigate the farmlands below.
Mr Richard Nyeko, the GISO, said farmers are frustrated by the failure of the system. “We used to have water flowing all the fields but since rehabilitating the scheme, the channels became too deep and water could not flow by itself to the gardens; even when you lock all the control gates,” Mr Nyeko said.

Mr Gabriel Nyeko, the prime minister of Lugorone chiefdom where the project sits, said the terrain was not levelled by the contractor and that they have been forced to pack sand in bags to control water in some sections since control gates do not work.
Mr Allan Ocaya, the chairperson of Agoro Self-help Irrigation Cooperative Society Ltd, said repairs on the scheme could not start in January this year due to a disagreement between the ministry and a service provider who was set to supply the water pipes.
“We realised that there was a problem right after it was commissioned in 2013, but our cries have never been answered. A promise by the ministry to repair the scheme early this year has not yielded fruit,’’ Mr Ocaya said.

Mr James Nabinson Kidaga, the resident district commissioner, said he recently brought a technical team on the ground who valued the works done in 2013 at only Shs10 billion, not Shs27 billion as claimed.
“This is theft of taxpayers’ money. The contractor only used Shs10 billion; that is why the works are not measuring up to the standards. I am filing a report to government to cause an inquiry into this,” he said.
This newspaper has established that government has earmarked another Shs6 billion to repair and improve the facility.

Ms Brenda Akao, the communication officer for northern region in Ministry of Water and Environment, said government handed over an incomplete facility since some residents refused to hand over their land for completion of the works.
“They were saying when we level, their boundaries would be affected and government would take away their land, so farmlands were never levelled; that is why water does not reach the fields,” Ms Akao said.
She added that the rehabilitation works would start soon.
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