Kenneth Omona, the State Minister for Northern Uganda has directed the Ministry of Water and Environment to produce a detailed performance report on the delayed rehabilitation of the Agoro Irrigation Scheme in Lamwo District within three weeks.
The directive follows growing concerns from farmers in Agoro Sub-county, who say the multi-billion shilling irrigation project has failed to effectively support agricultural production despite years of rehabilitation works.
During a recent site visit to the scheme, Omona expressed disappointment over the delayed works, saying the project has failed to deliver the intended benefits to the local population.
The minister also questions whether there was value for money in the project given the billions already spent and the slow pace of implementation.
Omona notes inconsistencies between the original feasibility study and the actual implementation of the rehabilitation works.
He says local communities have raised concerns that the water reservoir is too small to effectively irrigate the entire project area. Omona has further directed the Ministry of Water and Environment to review the irrigation scheme’s design and consider conducting additional feasibility studies to determine whether more water sources or another dam may be required.
Meanwhile, Charles Bwire, the Senior Engineer at the Ministry of Water and Environment’s Water for Production Regional Centre in Northern Uganda, defends the ongoing rehabilitation works, saying the current phase started in July 2024 and is targeting blocks one to six of the irrigation scheme.
Bwire explains that the initial rehabilitation works failed to address critical issues because some farmers resisted the leveling of farmland over fears of land grabbing.
By URN
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