Written By |
A water treatment facility at Kahengye in Kebisoni sub-county that was raised by Technofab Engineering services before the contractor abandoned the site. Photo by Stuart Twinomujuni
Search
In 2016, the government of Uganda through the Ministry of water and environment, at a tune of 44 billion shillings funding from World bank commenced the construction of Kahengye water project in Kebisoni, Rukungiri district that was expected to be completed in September 2017.
The contract was undertaken by an Indian firm, TECHNOFAB Engineering services and the scheme was expected to benefit 120,000 people in Rukungiri and Ntungamo districts.
But the project encountered a number of challenges as it could not be completed in the agreed time frame, a thing that saw the contractor ask for more time after one year in July, 2017.
The contractor had by then covered only 35% of the work.
In 2018, the Rukungiri district water officer, Deus Twekwatse was quoted in the media saying; ’’ The contractor had some challenges and government took all the measures to resolve them by making all the necessary extensions of contract, but still the contract has delayed for more than a year now.’’
In 2019, the contractor abandoned the site with only 65% of the work done at the source that included installing a water pump, reservoir and other infrastructure at River Kahengye, an action that sparked frustration.
During that time, a district leader who preferred not to be identified told the media that the contractor informed them that the company had run short of funds to run operations, a condition that called for termination of the contract with Technofab Engineering services.
Frustrated residents who were the direct intended beneficiaries kept mounting pressure on district leaders, demanding for completion of the project.
In February 2020, a contract was awarded to another company, Vidas and Vambeco Engineering companies to complete the project that had stalled for some time.
Subsequently, the Rukungiri district council passed a resolution to avail an additional 11 billion shillings towards the completion of the project, a motion that was tabled by the then district chairperson Andrewson Katebire who convinced the meeting that once the project is completed, problems of water shortage in the district would be history.
On November 23rd, 2022 the project was partially commissioned by the ministry of water and environment and handed over to National water and sewerage corporation (NWSC).
However, the final contractor was put under probation for a period of 12 months as the National water team was doing assessment on the project.
At the time of commissioning, the total cost had shot up to 55 billion shillings with some work still unfinished.
What is at stake?
Following budget challenges by the first contractor who were cutting costs here and there to avoid operating in deficit, there was installation of substandard water pipes and most of them have burst from underground, causing leakages and stopping water from reaching the intended beneficiaries.
According to Rukungiri deputy Resident district commissioner, Ahimbisiibwe Wilberforce Ongom, the area is still experiencing a water shortage challenge and areas that receive it, get it in small amounts.
Ongom blames the current situation on TECNOFAB engineering services who he says didn’t revise their bills of Quantities (BOQ) before signing the contract with the government.
‘’This is why the project was delayed because we had issues with the contractor who assumed it was an easy project to pursue, but on his way the work overpowered him’’. Said Ahimbisiibwe.
‘’We have small amounts of water in Rukungiri municipality and the challenge now is that even the little we have is not constant. We partnered with National water and sewerage corporation since they have experience in water management to help us fix the problem’’. He adds.
Rukungiri deputy Resident District Commissioner(RDC) Wilberforce Ongom in his office having an interview with our reporter. Photo by Stuart Twinomujuni.
He contends that they are monitoring what National water team is doing to ensure water reaches intended beneficiaries. ‘’I understand that the water has not reached 80 per cent of the areas that were selected to benefit but if you see how far we have come with Kahengye water project, there’s hope that it will be a success’’. He pointed out.
What are local council leaders saying?
Emmy Rubondo, the Buyanja town council Lc3 chairperson, one of the beneficiary sub counties, says people’s expectations have been lowered by the fact that five years later, the project hasn’t helped them.
The pipe work is so poor that when water is pumped, the pipes burst as a result of pressure. I think the contractor didn’t get time for pressure testing to ascertain whether the pipes were strong enough to contain it’’. Said Rubondo.
He adds that; ‘’We have spotted leakages in Kyamakanda, Ihingiro and many other areas where pipes exploded. So there's a need to re-do pipe work if we are to get water’’.
Water pipes Procured by Tecnofab Engineering services grounded at NWSC offices in Rukungiri which are believed to be substandard. This was before construction works commenced. Photo by Stuart Twinomujuni.
The project, expected to produce 9.6 million litres of water daily currently produces only 6oo,ooo litres out of the required 3 million litres a thing that has left many families without safe and clean water for human consumption.
In Rukungiri district alone, the project was to benefit 60,000 people in the town councils of Kebisoni, Buyanja, Rwerere and Rukungiri municipality.
John Kwesiga the Buyanja town council senior assistant secretary says he has received complaints of people from eight villages who were sampled with droplets of water at the partial launch of the project in 2022.
‘’They told me they used the water for a period of 2-3 days and since then, the taps went dry. So different people keep coming to my office presenting the same concern. I was forced to go to National water offices in Rukungiri municipality where they gave me two reasons, which include electricity being on and off and that the water pipes ruptured.’’ Said Mr.Kwesiga who looked disappointed.
He added that; ’’the project is here but we are in total water crisis and i think what should be done immediately is relaying pipes which most of us think were subsatandard’’.
Town clerk assures beneficiaries
The Rukungiri municipality deputy town clerk, Proper Tagobya admitted that much as the project delayed, much is being done to ensure it is functional. ‘’We have hope in the National water team that is fixing where it went wrong. Just like any new system, it got some defects of which the team is ironing out’’. He stated.
When contacted, Barbra Amumpaire the National water and sewerage corporation (NWSC) manager for Rukungiri area without revealing much said they are installing a pressure breaker at Ihingiro hill in Buyanja town council to ensure water is pumped to the reservoir adding that people will soon get constant water supply.
