Residents of Nkose and Nkese Islands in Kalangala District are calling for urgent government intervention following the failure of water projects worth UGX 2.8 billion.
The projects, launched in 2025 by the Government of Uganda, were intended to improve access to clean water for island communities on Lake Victoria. However, months after their expected completion, they remain either incomplete or non-functional, leaving residents without safe water sources.
Contracts for mechanized water systems on both islands were awarded to Nexus Green, with funding from United Kingdom Export Finance. The initiative aimed to install modern, high-tech water systems across the islands.
On Nkose Island in Mazinga Sub County, a UGX 1.8 billion project was designed to serve the busy landing sites of Katooke and Lugala. Meanwhile, UGX 1 billion was allocated for a similar system on Nkese Island in Bubeke Sub County.
Despite a six-month completion timeline, the projects have failed to deliver.
On Nkose Island, construction stalled before completion. Residents describe the site as a “shell of a project,” with no functional water system in place.
Henry Lubulwa from the Kalangala Resident District Commissioner’s office confirmed that efforts to engage the contractor have been unsuccessful.
“We have reminded them several times to return and complete the site, but they have adamantly refused. We do not know whether the project was abandoned altogether,” he said.
On Nkese Island, the situation is equally troubling. The water system reportedly failed during its first attempt to operate, raising concerns about technical decisions made during implementation.
A procurement officer revealed that expert advice on the pump’s location was ignored.
“They chose a risky site because it was cheaper. The system never worked. All that money never benefited our people,” the officer said.
The combined UGX 2.8 billion investment has raised serious concerns about possible cost inflation, mismanagement, and corruption. According to the district water department, a fully functional water system in Kalangala typically costs no more than UGX 400 million.
Residents are now questioning how such a large investment resulted in incomplete and non-functional projects.
“When you visit the Nkose site, nothing meets the required standards. We are left waiting indefinitely. If the water was flowing, at least it would make sense. But it was never finished,” said Gerald Kamali, a resident.
Islanders are calling on the Inspectorate of Government and other anti-corruption agencies to investigate Nexus Green and its partners. They are also appealing to the British High Commission, given the involvement of UK-backed financing, to ensure accountability for what they describe as “no value for money.”
There are also unverified allegations that the project may have been compromised by internal corruption, including demands for kickbacks that weakened oversight and allowed the contractor to default.
Efforts to obtain a response from Nexus Green have been unsuccessful, as calls and emails remain unanswered, further deepening mistrust among stakeholders.
Shahid Muliika, an official from the Ministry of Water and Environment who attended the project launch, has pledged to follow up and ensure the contractor fulfills its obligations.
Meanwhile, Nexus Green had also been earmarked for additional projects in Bubeke and Bufumira sub counties, raising concerns about potential future risks.
For residents of Nkose and Nkese, the issue goes beyond financial loss. It is about health, dignity, and survival. Without reliable water systems, communities continue to rely on unsafe water sources, exposing themselves to waterborne diseases.
What was meant to transform lives has instead become a symbol of broken promises.
Islanders are now left asking a critical question: how does UGX 2.8 billion get spent on projects that never delivered a single drop of water?
Until answers are provided, taps on Nkose and Nkese Islands will remain dry—and so will public trust in the systems meant to serve them.
