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Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The much-anticipated desilting of River Nyamwamba has started in Kasese district. The exercise will be undertaken by Ambitious Construction Company under a 17 billion Shillings project, with activities covering a distance of 5.4 kilometres along three major hotspots.
River Nyamwamba has in the recent past caused a lot of destruction and loss of lives as a result of flooding. The latest events resulted in the destruction of Kilembe Mines Hospital and left hundreds of area residents displaced.
Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, a commissioner at the Ministry of Water and Environment says the emergency maintenance measures are meant to safeguard the population and infrastructure such as schools from being destroyed whenever it floods. He noted the three hotspot areas are those highly dominated by the population and government infrastructure.
Dr. Tindimugaya added that there are other ongoing activities including protecting river banks, soils and conservation measures and giving alternative livelihoods to communities neighbouring the river but hastens to add that all these may not solve the problem until a comprehensive study is done to establish the best intervention.
Engineer Steven Egwette, from the Ministry of Water said that the contractor has been provided with a period of about a month for effective mobilization and undertaking another survey to reconfirm the three hotspots. He is certain that this intervention will go a long way in reducing the impact of flooding from the river.
The Kasese Deputy Town Clerk Kayiri Kambasu says any intervention to mitigate flooding along Nyamwmaba is highly welcome. However, he said that there is a need for continuous mobilization of the local population to conserve the environment.
Richard Bomera, the LCIII Bulembia division in Kasese municipality is optimistic that this long-sought intervention could save the local population from severe losses whenever it floods. He also called on the contractor to offer employment opportunities to the local population.
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