Kagadi-Residents of Kagadi, Muhorro, Kyenzige and Ruteete town councils in Kagadi district are complaining over the delayed completion of a multi-billion shilling gravity water flow project.
In December 2018, the Ministry of Water and Environment handed over construction site to Samcrete Egypt-Engineers and Contractors to undertake the construction works of the Piped Water Supply System project
Government commissioned the 22.8 billion shilling water project with a promise that it would be completed soon.
But after almost 3 years, residents have not seen even a single drop of water from the scheme.
The water project is meant to help the town councils and the neighboring villages solve the water problems in the area.
Kiiza Joseph Xavier, the town clerk of Muhorro town council and resident of Kyenzige town council blamed the contractor for not honoring its pledge of completing the project in the shortest time possible.
Insert……..Kiiza on delay
Mustafa Luganda-Kulya, a resident of Kagadi town council prays for the water project to be completed soon to avail residents with clean water at affordable price.
He has threatened to mobilize the community members to confiscate the construction materials of Samcrete Company if it does not complete the construction this month
Insert….Mustafa on water project
The project is jointly funded by the government and African Development Bank-ADB through the Water Supply and Sanitation Program Phase II (WSSP II) was expected to be completed in one year.
The site engineer for SAMCRET Company that were contracted to work on Kagadi piped water project Kayuwa Henry said the completion rate stands at 90%.
He said so far 295 households have been connected to the piped water.
According to Paul Kato, the branch manager Water Supply and Sanitation Program central region, the delay is attributed to land disputes, effects of Covid-19 and poor mobilization of residents to embrace the project.
He says the delay affected the project as the completion period was extended to 30th September 2021.
The LC5 chairperson Kagadi, Ndibwami B Yosia also expressed dissatisfaction to Samcrete Egypt-Engineers and Contractors for failing to complete the project in time.
He urged the contractor to expedite the construction work.
Once completed, the project is expected to enhance provision of water supply and sanitation facilities to Kagadi, Muhorro,Ruteete and Kyenzige town councils.
The project will see the construction of a Pump house, operator house and two office blocks with waterborne toilets and four public water borne toilets to promote sanitation.
Kagadi district is one of the districts in Bunyoro region with problem of clean water coverage.
Most of the residents fetch water from swamps and unclean water wells, putting their lives at risk of contracting diseases.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
