Uganda delivers 434 Solar Powered irrigation systems to boost farming
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The Ministry of Water and Environment delivered 434 solar powered irrigation and water supply systems across Uganda as part of a project to reduce farmer reliance on rain fed agriculture.
The project aims to support the country's goal of bringing 1.5 million hectares of farmland under irrigation by 2040. Currently, more than 96 percent of farming households depend on rain fed agriculture.
The ministry says Phase 1 of the project has already brought 2,000 acres under irrigation and benefited more than 905,000 people. In some urban areas, the new systems replaced diesel generators and lowered energy costs by about 70 percent. The government reduced the project scope from 920 systems to 687 because the initial bid from Nexus Green Ltd exceeded the approved financing. To manage costs, the government renegotiated a loan with UK Export Finance.
The revised plan includes 252 irrigation systems, 302 rural water supply systems, and 133 urban water supply systems. While 434 systems are finished, the ministry expects to deliver the remaining 253 systems during Phase II. Lawmakers on the Public Accounts Committee questioned the ministry about site selection and implementation records. Some officials pointed out that an audit showed 162 sites faced failures due to inadequate water sources or land disputes.
The ministry explained that these issues included land wrangles and changes in water quality. The project completion date was extended to April 30, 2026, due to pandemic related shipping disruptions and delays in acquiring land for facilities.
