The Kagera Water Project is making steady progress, with a couple of key breakthroughs achieved this week. This comes after the contractor Sogea-Satom officially handed over staff houses. The units have been allocated to National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) trainees who have been undergoing intensive, hands-on training to prepare for full operation of the plant once commissioning is complete.

Equally significant, water has for the first time successfully reached the Bihunya reservoir, a significant milestone in efforts to stabilise supply to Mbarara and surrounding areas. This achievement comes after several setbacks caused by bursts around Kyeirumba town, which had previously hindered progress, so a sense of relief is warranted.

With these advances, attention has now shifted to the final stretch of works required before full commissioning. Some of these include connecting both the Water Treatment Plant and the Kabingo booster station to the UEDCL power supply, constructing operator accommodation and sanitary facilities at Kabingo booster, completing valve chambers along the Boma transmission mains, and laying a DN 700 wash-out drainage pipeline from the Boma reservoirs into the public drainage system.

With this progress, communities in Mbarara will soon benefit from an expanded and more dependable water supply system.