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Egypt gives Shs4 billion to fight Kasese floods
Houses affected by floods in Kasese District recently. Egypt has joined hands with the Uganda government to seek a permanent solution to the problem. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA
What you need to know:
The funding will facilitate the building of dams to create a buffer against floods in the district.
KAMPALA- The Egyptian government has offered $1.5 million (aboutShs4 billion) to facilitate a study that will seek a long term solution to the flooding in Kasese District that causes death and destruction of property every year.
Every rainy season, River Nyamwamba on the slopes of Mt Rwenzori bursts its banks, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Dr Yosry Khasagy, the head of Egypt Irrigation Mission in Uganda, told journalists in Kampala recently that the funding is targeting both short term and long term plans.
“We have just ended a joint technical meeting of Ugandan and Egyptian officials in the water sector ministries in Cairo. Egypt is funding a study to establish a long term solution to the Kasese floods,” said Dr Khasagy.
“For the time being, we are to build three dams, each with a capacity of more than 20,000 cubic metres as a short time remedy,” he added.
He said the project is expected to kick off any time.
The funding comes after Cabinet recently approved a request by the Disaster ministry to allocate Shs25b for relief to Kasese in the aftermath of the floods.
The funding of the Kasese project adds on the long list of projects undertaken by the Egyptian government in Uganda.
Recently, Cairo embarked on a programme that will see 75 water wells drilled in 23 districts. The project is estimated to cost about Shs2.5 billion.
The first phase of 10 boreholes was commissioned early this year in Mukono District.
