At least 15,000 refugees and members of the host community in Nakivale Refugee Settlement are set to benefit from a new Shs1.5 billion water project aimed at improving access to safe and reliable drinking water.
The Nakisawa Water Project, implemented by the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation through the Austrian Red Cross, the Netherlands Red Cross and the Belgian Red Cross, was commissioned over the weekend by the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Sam Engola.
The project is a subsidiary of the Misyera Water Treatment Plant, which has the capacity to produce 50 cubic metres of treated water every hour. The facility comprises a 10-metre-square intake structure protected by gabions, a 1,000-metre raw water intake pipeline, a cascade aeration system, flocculation and sedimentation units, a rapid sand filtration system, a 200-cubic-metre clear water reservoir, solar-powered pumping systems, an automatic alum dosing unit, a water quality laboratory, a guard house and sanitation facilities.
Uganda Red Cross Society Secretary General Robert Kwesiga described the project as a major milestone in addressing one of Nakivale’s longest-standing humanitarian challenges. He said the system was deliberately designed for long-term sustainability through gravity-fed distribution and solar-powered pumping, reducing dependence on expensive fuel and unreliable electricity supplies.
Kwesiga noted that despite the new investment, continued refugee arrivals into Uganda mean more long-term investment in water infrastructure will still be needed to meet growing demand. Relief Minister Sam Engola commended the Uganda Red Cross Society and its development partners for investing in infrastructure that will improve public health and livelihoods in the settlement.
He also appealed to the international community to continue supporting Uganda’s refugee response, noting that the country’s refugee population continues to grow amid persistent funding constraints.
Ivan Akatuhanya, the LC I Chairperson of Misyera Village, said inadequate water supply has for years affected both refugees and host communities, particularly during prolonged dry spells when water levels in Lake Nakivale decline. He, however, appealed for the water distribution network to be extended to parts of his village that remain underserved despite hosting the project’s pumping infrastructure.
Nyiramugisha Nsabimana, a refugee living in the settlement, said the project would spare families the hardship of walking long distances in search of water. She recalled that many residents were previously forced to fetch water directly from Lake Nakivale, exposing themselves to dangerous animals and other risks. The Nakisawa Water Project forms part of broader efforts by the Uganda Red Cross Society and its partners to strengthen climate-resilient water infrastructure in refugee-hosting districts while expanding access to safe drinking water for both refugees and surrounding host communities-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
