Nyamugasani Water Project powers Kasese’s 10-fold economic growth drive
Hope is rising across Bukhonzo East constituency in Kasese district, western Uganda as the World Bank-funded Nyamugasani Integrated Water Management Development Project (IWMDP) nears completion.
It is a milestone that promises to transform livelihoods, improve health, and propel Uganda’s 10-fold economy agenda. The project, now 88 per cent complete, is being hailed as a game-changer in service delivery, with residents set to benefit from a steady supply of safe water and improved sanitation once operational in December 2025.
During a two-day inspection, technical teams from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department, the Umbrella of Water and Sanitation, and district leaders confirmed the project’s impressive progress.
Lt Mate Magwara, resident district commissioner (RDC), said the project was in its final stages, with key infrastructure, including the intake, treatment plant, reservoirs, and transmission lines, nearing completion.
“The project is in advanced stages because water is already here, with all the required materials and equipment in place. The treatment plant, intake, reservoirs, and transmission lines show substantial progress,” Magwara said.
He applauded the contractors, Zhongmei Engineering Group Ltd (Lot 1) and Zhonghao Oversees Construction Co. Ltd (Lot 2), for their commitment and urged residents to complement the government’s investment by promoting sanitation and tree planting along riverbanks.
Fast-tracked for December commissioning
According to Eng Olweny Lamu, acting commissioner for Rural Water, the government is pushing to complete all major works by the end of November. Remaining activities include the installation of the backwash tank, chemical and chlorine houses, rapid sand filters, and several reservoirs in Musasa, Upper Kisinga, Lower Kisinga, Bwenanure, and Kasonkero.
Project manager Eng Carolyn Kasisira noted that the Nyamugasani system, launched on August 1, 2024, spans over 300 kilometres of transmission and distribution pipelines, with reservoir tanks ranging from 125 to 400 cubic metres.
Once completed, it will deliver 5,588 cubic metres of clean water daily, reaching 57 villages across eight sub-counties and three town councils. The project also incorporates climate-resilient infrastructure, including Automatic Valveless Gravity Filters (AVG) that complement traditional rapid sand filters.
These technologies ensure water purity in the face of the region’s frequent floods and heavy siltation.
Health and economic transformation
The social impact of the project is already being felt. Immaculate Masika, a nursing officer at Kyarumba health centre II, said the upcoming constant water supply will greatly enhance hygiene and reduce waterborne diseases.
“As a health centre two, constant water supply is vital for patients, nurses, and staff. The availability of clean water will significantly reduce cases of diarrhoea and other hygiene-related diseases,” she said.
The health centre serves between 50 and 70 patients daily, many of whom suffer from illnesses linked to unsafe water. As part of its sanitation component, the project has constructed 32 gender-segregated VIP latrines in schools and a water-borne toilet at Kyarumba health centre III.
Beyond health, the project is expected to drive local economic growth by improving agricultural productivity, attracting investment, and creating jobs. Robert Guma, chairman of Buhakya town council, said local leaders will mobilize residents to take advantage of the 3,000 promotional household connections to ensure maximum utilization of the new infrastructure.
Environmental and social safeguards
The Nyamugasani project is also advancing environmental conservation, with communities receiving tree seedlings to replant areas affected by construction and restore degraded riverbanks.
In addition, the project has integrated HIV/AIDS and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness initiatives, including signage and regular community engagements to promote inclusion and social protection.
With its combination of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment, the Nyamugasani Water Project stands out as a model of integrated rural development, one that embodies Uganda’s push for inclusive growth and sustainable service delivery.
