NELSON K
The Ugandan President-elect, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, on Saturday questioned the delay in the Kahengye water project and electricity shortages affecting the Inspire Africa Coffee Park and surrounding areas.
The President made these remarks while meeting NRM leaders, including all national ministers and Members of Parliament-elect, at the Africa Coffee Park premises in Rwashameire Town Council, Ntungamo District.
Earlier in the day, President Museveni joined an election victory party at Lake Nyabihoko Coffee Beach, organized by Dr. Nelson Tugume, the Inspire Africa Coffee Park Executive Director, together with the NRM Flag Unstoppables team. At the event, he urged residents to grow Robusta coffee and adopt the Brazilian style of coffee farming to improve productivity and increase harvests.
In the evening, while at the Coffee Park in Rwashameire with the national cabinet, state ministers, and MPs-elect, President Museveni raised concerns about the delay in the Kahengye water project following reported water shortages at the Inspire Africa Coffee Park manufacturing facility.
In response, the Inspire Africa Coffee Park Executive Director, Dr. Nelson Tugume, explained that after the project failed to progress as expected, the management board decided to use part of the awarded funds to sustain the coffee industry project by diverting them to a private-sector water pumping initiative. He noted that the project is expected to stabilize within the next three weeks.
Dr. Tugume further assured that under the private-sector arrangement, about two million litres of water will be pumped per day starting next month, which he said will help resolve the water shortage at the project.
H.E. President Museveni thanked Dr. Nelson Tugume for the hard work and pledged to compensate the funds he used under the private-sector arrangement to address the challenge.
President Museveni also questioned the electricity power shortages affecting the Inspire Africa Coffee Park and the surrounding areas.
In response, the State Minister for Energy, Hon. Sidronius Okaasai Oplot, explained that the planned power extension from the Mirama Hills had been hindered by insufficient financing. The President asked him to state the amount of funds required to address the challenge and, upon receiving the information, pledged to follow up until the project is fully funded and the issue resolved.
