The Parliamentary Committee on National Economy has embarked on an intensive field assessment to evaluate the return on public investment, with a specific focus on government-funded community development projects.
This week, legislators camped in the Teso Sub-region to inspect progress on a large-scale powered water supply and irrigation project, funded by a €111,060,591 (UGX 457.92 billion) loan acquired from the UK Export Finance in 2021.
The ambitious project aims to enhance agricultural productivity and transform the economy by ensuring reliable access to water across rural and peri-urban areas, particularly in the face of climate change.
Contracted to Nexus Green Ltd, the project’s scope includes the construction of 687 irrigation sites across the country, to be completed within 36 months. Due to unforeseen delays, the completion date was revised to August 23, 2025.
During their visit, the MPs toured Agule Village in Toroma Sub-county, Katakwi District, where the project has already begun bearing fruit, literally.
Farmers in the area, once plagued by unreliable rainfall, are now enjoying impressive harvests thanks to consistent irrigation. The success has significantly improved household incomes, with some farmers now earning as much as UGX 45 million per season, according to Eng. Patrick Okotel, the project’s water engineer.
“We are seeing incredible results,” Eng. Okotel said. “Our farmers can now harvest up to 45 million shillings per season, which is very good. However, we also face challenges such as inconsistent water flow during cloudy days since the pumps are solar-powered. Additionally, we are seeing an overwhelming demand for project expansion.”
The project’s implementation has not only boosted agriculture but also empowered women in the region. Hon. Stella Isodo, the Ngora District Woman MP, expressed her joy upon learning that many women were among the project’s primary beneficiaries.
“We are satisfied with our findings at the farm because we found women actively benefiting from this project,” she said. “However, we urge government to address challenges such as poor road networks so that farmers can access markets with ease.”
While the benefits are evident, several issues continue to hinder full realization of the project’s goals. John Bosco Ikojo, Chairperson of the Committee on National Economy, emphasized the urgency of tackling infrastructural bottlenecks.
“The harvests are impressive, but the farmers are struggling to reach markets, Poor roads threaten the sustainability of this multibillion project, Government must intervene,” Ikojo stated.
According to the project manager, Ms. Christine Nabacowa, 25 sites remain pending due to delayed land acquisition. She also highlighted other operational challenges including increased construction costs driven by growing demands from beneficiaries, and cases of vandalism at some of the completed sites.
Despite these hurdles, the project remains a landmark achievement in Uganda’s efforts to modernize agriculture and promote climate resilience.
With solar-powered systems enabling reliable water supply in remote areas, the initiative has demonstrated the powerful impact of strategic public borrowing when matched with clear implementation goals.
As the project approaches its final implementation year, legislators and implementers alike are calling for a multi-sectoral approach to address the challenges, particularly the need for improved infrastructure and land access.
With continued government support and community engagement, the powered irrigation project could serve as a model of agricultural transformation and rural empowerment, not just in Teso, but across Uganda.