Rukungiri- A solar-powered irrigation project, valued at Shs.545 in Rwakabengo ward Southern division Rukungiri municipality in Rukungiri district has fallen into disrepair due to poor maintenance of its water equipment.
During the 2020/21 financial year, the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment constructed the Rwakabengo Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme, which operated for only one season before breaking down causing farmers significant losses.
The irrigation system was established with a primary goal of benefitting organized farmer groups in the area by enhancing productivity and allowing all-year-round farming.
After 5 years of its setup, the once-promising project is now unable to fulfill its intended purpose.
Mr Mathias Kahonaho, the chairperson of Rwakabengo farmers said ‘’ the scheme had once supported family stability, with farmers committed to agriculture and supplying produce to Rukungiri Central Market. But after a while the project stopped working and we informed our leaders at municipal level expecting a solution from them but it yielded nothing. At the moment, the project is there wasting way and even the ministry official took the pump for repair about 2 years ago so we are here waiting for them to bring back our pump’’
The group chairperson added that ‘’the municipal officials should work hand in hand with the district leadership and the ministry and repair the equipment so that it can again supply water for both agriculture and domestic use’’
Ms Beth Nanziri , a resident of Rwakabengo A cell , Rwakabengo Ward, Southern Division, Rukungiri Municipality and a member of Rwakabengo farmers groups expressed confusion over the project dysfunctionality.
‘’ At first the project worked very well for one season. After like 3 months, the project completely stopped in the middle of another season. Its dysfunctionality cost us a lot because we had planted our seedlings and they all dried up. Am therefore asking the Ministry to either repair the system ’’ Ms Nanziri said.
Ms Allen Mugabirwe, another member of Rwakabengo farmers group and a direct beneficiary of the project reports that the irrigation system broke down within a year of installation and has never been fully repaired.
‘’ The fall of the project resulted in financial losses because it dried up in the middle of the season yet we had just planted our seedlings which all died due to lack of water. So after losing our money which had been used to purchase seedlings we left the project and it is wasting away ’’. Ms Mugabirwe said.
Mr Polycarp Mugisha, another direct beneficiary expressed dissatisfaction his with the project saying that ‘’ the irrigation system was fitted with weak and thin capillary tubes that could hardly serve its intended purpose’’
Mr Polycarp added that ‘’ our leaders are very much aware and our repeated pleas to the district authorities to address the issues have been in vain, leading to the project’s unfortunate decline and earning it the nickname of a “white ghost.”
Mr Denis Buzabo, the Head of the Production department at Rukungiri Municipality, acknowledged the non-functionality of the irrigation project. He attributes the current state of the project to a lack of sufficient budget for maintenance and equipment replacement.
Mr Buzabo, however, remains hopeful that notifying the Ministry of Water and Environment about the challenges will lead to assistance in restoring the system and revitalizing the project to serve its intended purpose once again.
‘’ The ministry people are aware of this issue and I have been engaging them about this project so they are very much informed about this project ‘’. Mr Buzabo said.
