A floating island has become an unexpected obstacle for the Ministry of Water and Environment in Majanji, where they are working on laying an intake pipe for a reservoir. The primary aim of this project is to provide running water to the residents of Busia. Immix Turyatunga, the principal engineer at the water ministry, expressed determination to overcome this challenge and ensure piped water is delivered by December this year.
To address the floating island issue, Turyatunga mentioned that the ministry is exploring two technical solutions. One involves using motorized equipment from the agriculture ministry to move or break a section of the floating island, allowing for the pipe to be laid at the bottom of the lake.
However, the project’s progress is further impeded by local residents. Over 200 residents in a two-kilometer stretch in Majanji have blocked the works. These residents, who did not receive compensation from the Uganda National Roads Authority during the construction of the Musita-Namayingo-Lumino-Majanji-Busia Road, are demanding fair compensation for their lost property and crops. They argue that it is their right to seek compensation and question why some were compensated even before the construction of the 104-kilometer road, which cost sh207 billion.
The Busia-Majanji municipality piped water supply and sanitation system is part of the Integrated Water Management and Development Project (IWMDP), funded by the World Bank and the Government of Uganda with sh35 billion. Originally intended for Busia Municipality, the project was expanded to include rural growth centers such as Lumino-Majanji, Mile Seven and Eight trading centers, Masafu, and Dabani along Busia-Majanji Road, with a total investment of $10.3 million (about sh38.5 billion). The primary objective of IWMDP is to improve water supply, sanitation, and water resource management in the target areas.
