MUGABE R
Farmers in Garuka Cell, Garuka Parish, Bwambara Sub County in Rukungiri District are appealing to the Ministry of Water and Environment to either repair or remove the non-functional Garuka Water Irrigation Scheme equipment, which has remained idle for years.
Constructed in 2019 at a cost of over 700 million Ugandan shillings, the irrigation scheme was intended to boost agricultural productivity by providing a reliable water source from River Ntungwa. However, just two years after its completion, the river’s flow was diverted, leaving the pump station inactive and the project abandoned.
Maria Beatrice, a concerned elderly farmer, expressed frustration that the land occupied by the broken sprinklers could have been used for cultivation. She called for urgent action from the ministry to either restore the scheme or clear the land for productive use.
Wilson Twebaze, the Local Council Chairperson of Garuka, echoed the farmers’ dissatisfaction, criticizing the waste of government resources and the failure to benefit the community as initially promised.
William Nkumbuye, the Chairperson of the farmers under the irrigation scheme, lamented the loss of land that was donated in good faith for the project, only for it to remain unused and neglected.
Rukungiri District Water Officer, Deus Twekwase, acknowledged the situation but noted that the repair of the irrigation system falls under the Ministry of Water and Environment, which is yet to provide a solution.
The farmers are now demanding swift intervention, warning that continued inaction will only deepen their struggles amidst changing climate conditions and increased demand for sustainable agriculture.
