Uganda is set to borrow close to Shs 1 trillion from the World Bank to extend safe water to different parts of the country as well as to cater for the water and sanitation needs for refugee (and host) communities.
Cabinet which sat on Monday at State House approved a proposal to acquire a loan worth Shs 959 billion (USD 251 million) from this International Development Association of the World Bank to implememt the project.
According to Minister for ICT, Frank Tumwebaze who communicated the Cabinet resolutions to the press on Tuesday, the areas to benefit from the water and sanitation project include Gulu municipality, Adjumani town council, Busia town council, Pakele, Ciforo, Dzapi as well as parishes of Agojo and Mungula.
This is under the Integrated Water Management and Development Project (IWMDP).
The others are Namungalwe-Kaliro, Kyegegwa-Mpara-Ruyonza, Namasale, Mbale municipality, Butaleja-Busolwe and Budaka-Kadama-Tirinyi-Kibuku.
“The other objective of this integrated water management and development project is to support the provision of water and sanitation services to refugees and host communities in the districts of Adjumani, Isingiro, Hoima, Moyo, Arua, Lamwo, Yumbe and Koboko,” Minister Tumwebaze said.
He also said that the project seeks to strengthen the national water resource monitoring and information system.
The proposed Integrated Water Management and Development Project (IWMDP) was conceived as a follow on project to Uganda’s Water Management and Development Project (WMDP).
The project is consistent with government of Uganda’s vision of a transformed society from a peasant economy to a modern and prosperous country by 2040.
It is designed to contribute directly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is guided by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development.