Water crisis in Lyantonde: Govt projects struggle as supply dwindles

LYANTONDE - A multibillion-shilling water project in Lyantonde district is on the verge of collapse, with officials warning of severely reduced water supply to three major sub-counties: Kaliiro, Kasagama, and Kinuuka.

During a monitoring visit on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, economic monitoring state minister Beatrice Akello discovered that the once-promising water project, which cost the Government an estimated shillings six billion, is now operating below capacity due to falling underground water levels.

"The system was expected to serve the area for at least 25 years, but it's already struggling just nine years in," Minister Akello said, expressing disappointment over what she called poor planning and inadequate feasibility studies by implementing agencies.

The project was handed over to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) for management. However, due to dwindling water supply from the source, residents are now enduring rationed access, with some areas going days without water.

NWSC Lyantonde district manager Joshua Ruhweza admitted to the crisis and said a stopgap solution is underway.

“There is a shortage, but we are addressing it by co-implementing a new project that sources water from an alternative location. For now, we are forced to pump water on a rotational basis to the three sub-counties,” Ruhweza said.

During a monitoring visit on Tuesday, Beatrice Akello, State minister for Economic Monitoring, discovered that the once promising water project, which cost the government an estimated sh6b, is now operating below capacity.

More comprehensive feasibility studies needed

Minister Akello urged the water ministry to conduct more comprehensive feasibility studies for such high-cost infrastructure projects.

“If water levels are likely to decline, that must be factored into the initial planning. We can’t continue investing billions in systems that break down within a decade,” she said.
She further recommended that future projects include sustainability components to adapt to environmental changes, especially in water-scarce regions like Lyantonde.

Local leaders say the reduced access to clean water is already affecting livelihoods, public health, and school operations.

"The water situation has become unbearable in some parts of the district," a resident of Kasagama said. 

“We sometimes fetch water from unsafe sources when taps run dry for days.”

The crisis is also raising questions about accountability and co-ordination among ministries, district leaders, and implementation agencies.

During the visit, Akello also inspected several other government projects, including road construction, health centre upgrades, and school facilities.

She engaged with local leaders, project implementers, and beneficiaries to gather feedback and identify challenges affecting service delivery.

She highlighted a budgeting issue that had delayed the completion of Kasagama Seed School, a key education project in the district.

The school cost the government shillings 3.099 billion, and yet the initiative is under the project whose designed duration period ends in December.

“I realised that at the end of the financial year, the district returned the unspent funds to the Consolidated Fund, but the Ministry of Finance did not re-commit the money back to the district,” Akello said.

“This is a serious gap, and we are going to follow it up with the Ministry of Finance to ensure the funds are returned.”

She noted that the delay in completing the school was negatively affecting both learners and the government, citing lost time and delayed access to essential education services.

On-site, district engineer Jonadarb Tindimwebwa reported that the construction was 85% complete and assured the minister that the remaining works would be finished within the project’s scheduled timeframe.

“The remaining works include terrazzo flooring in classrooms, tiling staff quarters, painting, landscaping, and water harvesting,” he said. 

“These are budgeted at shillings 540 million and are expected to be completed by December.”

Teachers sleeping in classrooms

Lyantonde district LC5 chairperson Fred Muhangi raised concerns about the lack of adequate accommodation for teachers in the newly established schools, particularly in remote areas.

“The Government has done a commendable job in increasing the number of schools,” Muhangi said. 

“However, many of these schools are in locations with no nearby trading centres where teachers can rent housing. As a result, some teachers are forced to sleep in classrooms and fold their bedding each morning before students arrive.”

He added that the situation was not only undermining the performance of teachers and schools but also violating the teachers’ basic rights to privacy and dignity.

“Sometimes we pressure teachers to deliver results, yet the conditions under which they live and work are far from conducive,” Muhangi said.

“These are adults who are entitled to family life and privacy — but how can that be possible when they are sleeping in classrooms?”

Lyantonde district has a population of approximately 140,000 people and more than 40,000 households.

Key stakeholders at the inspection cited funding delays and resource constraints as some of the persistent challenges facing service delivery. Minister Akello pledged to address these concerns with the relevant authorities.