The government, in collaboration with Welthungerhilfe (WHH), has launched a new Phase 3, water catchment project aimed at alleviating water scarcity in 10 districts across the Karamoja and Teso sub-regions.
The districts include: Moroto, Napak, Nabilatuk, Kotido, Kaabong, and Abim in Karamoja sub region; and Kapelebyong, Amuria, Katakwi, and Soroti in Teso.
The multi-phase initiative, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), seeks to address environmental challenges such as deforestation, soil erosion, and unsustainable land practices.
The 1.2 million Euro project, running from 2025 to 2027, builds on the success of the 2.9 Euro Lokere project (Phases 1 and 2), which ran from 2019 to December 2024.
While launching the project at the 8th Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK 2025), the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Peter Lokeris, urged local leaders and communities to closely monitor the project’s implementation.
He emphasized the importance of water in every aspect of life, stating, “When you eat greens, if there is no water, the greens will not enter the body. Water is consumed in every part of life.”
In her remarks, Beatrice Anywar, the State Minister for Water and Environment, expressed gratitude to BMZ for its ongoing support and assured that Phase 3 funding would address environmental degradation and poor resource management.
“This project will make a big contribution in supporting our people in Karamoja to cope with climate change challenges,” she noted.
In his message delivered by the Ag. Director Water Resources Management. Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alfred Okot Okidi, praised the timing of the project’s launch, noting, “UWEWK provides us an opportunity to discuss water, environment, and climate change. A project that looks at where water comes from and where it goes is crucial because water doesn’t follow administrative boundaries.”
Julius Lwegaba, WHH Area Manager for Moroto, who represented the organisation’s Country Director, highlighted the project’s alignment with Uganda’s water management vision, emphasizing its role in promoting sustainable water practices. He noted the importance of an integrated catchment management approach, which supports both sustainable land use and improved livelihoods.
Lwegaba also pointed out that Phase 3 will advocate for policy reforms aimed at strengthening integrated water resource management at the national level.
This includes collaboration with civil society, research institutions, the private sector, and donors.
The project aligns with both WHH’s strategy for zero hunger and a healthy planet, and MWE’s 2020-2030 catchment-based water resource management plan.
Philippe Roussel, Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Uganda, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to sustainable development in Uganda, stressing that the project will contribute to broader environmental conservation efforts.
He also highlighted Uganda’s crucial reform in managing water resources effectively, saying, “This addresses environmental degradation, pollution, and climate change, which directly affect food security and quality of life.”
Betty Flora Nakiru, Head of the WHH Project, shared the accomplishments from Phases 1 and 2, including large-scale tree planting, soil and water conservation techniques, and the promotion of climate-smart agriculture. In total, the project planted 14,973 trees, constructed 6,158 moon pits around trees, and introduced energy-saving technologies to reduce deforestation.
The launch of Phase 3 signifies a continued commitment to improving water resources management in Uganda, contributing to the country’s broader environmental goals and climate change mitigation efforts.
