Uganda has secured from the Government of France about Shs. 7.9billion to pump water from River Kagera to supply Mbarara and Isingiro districts.
According to the regional National Water and Sewerage Corporation manager Emmanuel Ekanya, the areas need up to 20 million liters of water a day.
Eng Alex Gisagara Director Engineering NWSC says the money has already been delivered and works will commence before the end of this year.
The two districts have been for decades depending on River Rwizi, which however, owing to long dry spells and human activities, has drastically dried up, and can only produce 13million liters a day.
“Because of the reducing volumes, we have been having challenges in pumping water especially to hilly areas,” Mr Ekanya said.
The other challenge he said, has been institutions that use water on a large scale by rarely pay their bills.
Among these he named Uganda Police and Mbarara Referral hospital which both owe up to Shs 5.5billion to the corporation.
Ahead of the mega water pumping project, Mr Ekanya urged locals to preserve the River Rwizi waters to avoid further shrinking.