New innovative water project set to transform Ntungamo residents

In a major boost to water security and climate resilience, the ministry of Water and Environment has commissioned an innovative underground water storage system in Kakukuru Town Council, Ntungamo district.

Known as the Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) system, the project was implemented through the ministry’s Department of International Transboundary Water Affairs (ITWA) and marks a significant milestone in efforts to improve sustainable water supply in water-stressed communities.

The innovative technology captures excess surface water during the rainy season and stores it underground for use during prolonged dry spells, ensuring a more reliable year-round water supply.

Handing over the facility, the commissioner for ITWA, Eng Sowed Sewagudde, who represented the permanent secretary, Dr Alfred Okot Okidi, described the system as a game-changer in Uganda’s efforts to adapt to climate change.

Sewagudde expressed appreciation to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for providing the financial and technical support that made the project possible.

“This project demonstrates the value of regional cooperation in addressing shared water challenges and translating that cooperation into tangible benefits for local communities,” Sewagudde said.

Advancing climate-smart water technology

Sewagudde said the MAR system offers an innovative and sustainable alternative to conventional gravity-fed water supply schemes. He explained that the Ntungamo pilot combines both groundwater and surface water sources to guarantee uninterrupted water supply throughout the year.

“As climate variability continues to affect rainfall patterns, such nature-based solutions are becoming increasingly important in enhancing water security, building resilience, and supporting sustainable livelihoods,” he said.

According to Sewagudde, the facility will provide safe and reliable water to about 500 households in Kakukuru town council and surrounding communities. Beyond improving domestic water access, he said the project will reduce the burden of water collection, improve public health and contribute to the area’s socio-economic development.

Ensuring sustainability

Sewagudde said the ministry had entrusted the operation and maintenance of the system to the Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation, citing its technical capacity and experience to ensure long-term sustainability.

He urged the utility, together with the district local government, community leaders and water users, to work collectively to protect the investment. He added that the project would also serve as a demonstration site for future groundwater recharge initiatives across Uganda, particularly in areas increasingly affected by climate change.

“The lessons learned here will inform future groundwater recharge initiatives across the country, particularly in areas facing increasing water stress due to climate change,” he said.

Sewagudde also commended the Ntungamo district local government, ministry technical teams, NBI, UNDP, contractors, consultants and the local community for their contribution to the successful implementation of the project.

He urged all stakeholders to ensure the system is properly maintained for the benefit of both current and future generations.

Strong partnership

Wycliffe Tumwebaze, assistant commissioner in the Department of ITWA, highlighted the strong collaboration between the Government of Uganda, UNDP and the Nile Basin Initiative.

He noted that the partnership had enabled the successful implementation of the pilot projects in Ntungamo and Bulambuli districts. Tumwebaze thanked NBI and UNDP for selecting Ntungamo, one of western Uganda’s water-stressed districts, for the pilot project.

He explained that the system incorporates hardcore aggregate, sand bedding and geotextile lining, together with a direct chlorine dosing unit for water treatment.

According to Tumwebaze, the scheme currently has a production capacity of 3.5 cubic metres of water per hour, although it is presently operating at 2.5 cubic metres per hour, with room to increase output as demand grows.

He added that the distribution network can be expanded in future under the management of the Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation.

Regional significance

Dr Abraha Adugna, deputy executive director of the Nile Basin Initiative, underscored the importance of access to clean water in improving public health and reducing healthcare costs.

He said the Ntungamo and Bulambuli projects are Uganda’s first Managed Aquifer Recharge pilot systems and expressed hope that the technology would eventually be replicated across the country’s other water-stressed areas and throughout the remaining 10 Nile Basin member states.

Dr Adugna said the project aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation, as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Dr Maha Abdelraheem, project team leader at NBI, thanked all stakeholders for supporting implementation of the project and for providing land for the facility.

She noted that the project was completed without a single case of equipment theft, describing it as evidence of strong community ownership. Collins Tonny Biryomumaiso, a technical specialist at UNDP, urged district leaders and residents to embrace the project.

He said proper management of the country’s first Managed Aquifer Recharge system would pave the way for similar projects across Uganda.

A lifeline for residents

For many residents, the project has already transformed daily life. Adella Orishaba, a mother of two from Rwaminaba Cell, said women previously walked long distances to nearby swamps to fetch unsafe water for household use.

“We trekked long distances to the swamps where we fetched unclean water, and we could not get time to do other household chores on time,” Orishaba said.

“We thank the government and everyone who contributed to bringing this project here for changing our lives.”

Naboth Ninsiima, the LC I chairperson of Rwaminaba Cell, welcomed the project, saying it replaces a community pond that had previously claimed the life of a young child.

He revealed that he donated part of his land to provide access to the water facility and urged the Water User Committee to work closely with the Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation to ensure the system is properly maintained.

District leaders welcome project

Ntungamo resident district commissioner Miriam Kagaiga Mugisha commended the government and its development partners for extending clean piped water to the district.

She appealed to the ministry to continue expanding the network to underserved communities. Chief administrative officer Fidelis Kiiza said the project directly addresses longstanding water and sanitation challenges while improving the health and well-being of residents.

He pledged the district’s support in mobilising communities to work with the Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation to ensure effective operation and maintenance of the facility.

Kiiza also welcomed the early handover of the system to the utility manager, saying it helps beneficiaries understand from the outset that paying modest user fees is necessary to sustain operations and maintenance over the long term.

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