The National Water and Sewerage Corp. announced the completion of the long-awaited Kagera River Water Project on Tuesday, successfully delivering water to the Mbarara reservoirs. The project was initiated by the Ugandan government seven years ago.
The 60-kilometer transmission stretch, which began construction in 2022, is intended to substantially boost the regional water supply.
Engineer Dennis Muramuzi, general manager of NWSC Mbarara, confirmed the milestone, stating the project successfully delivered water from the Kagera River to the Boma reservoirs at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday. The intake point is near the Tanzanian border.
“This milestone represents a major step forward in enhancing the region’s water supply infrastructure and improving access to clean water for the communities of Mbarara and the surrounding areas,” Muramuzi said.
The project began July 1, 2017, as a necessary supplement to the River Rwizi, which has seen a significant decline in volume because of climate change and human activity.
The River Rwizi currently provides 18 million liters of water daily, which is insufficient to meet demand. The Kagera River supplement is expected to provide an additional 12 million liters per day.
The Ugandan government secured a €68 million loan (about 8 billion shillings) from the French Development Agency for the project, which draws water from the Kagera River, a resource shared by Uganda and Tanzania.
The project is expected to improve water access for the districts of Isingiro, Mbarara and Kiruhura, with a total production capacity of 30,000 cubic meters of water per day.
The announcement has restored hope for residents in city areas such as Katete, Kakoba, Kakyeeka and Ntare.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to all teams, partners and stakeholders whose dedication and collaboration have made this accomplishment possible,” Muramuzi said.
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