Construction of Abola dam in Serere stalls

Serere, Uganda | THE NDEPENDENT | The construction of a multi-purpose dam in Abola Village, Bugondo Sub County in Serere district has stalled for months over inadequate funds. Construction works were launched in April 2022 and it was expected to last one year.

The dam on a 37-acre piece of land was first constructed in 1954 but failed to serve its purpose after silting for more than ten years. It has a capacity to store 300 million liters of water that has been planned for irrigation, watering livestock, and aquaculture.

Moses Tibamwagaine, an Engineering Assistant working on the project through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) says that the completion of the project is dependent on the availability of funds from the ministry. He notes that while the major works of de-silting and constructing the dam were almost done, they are yet to start with the irrigation and aquaculture projects, major components designed in the de-silting and reconstruction of Abola dam.

Tibamwagaine told our reporter that if funds are availed, it will take them less than two months to complete the project.

During a monitoring tour to assess the progress of work in Abola on Thursday, the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa Abeku said that the ministry is looking for funds to ensure the project is completed in the shortest time possible.

Pontius Pilate Eyolu, a community member in Abola village says that whereas the project has been delayed, they have high hopes that once completed, the project will have a positive impact on the community in Bugondo Sub County.

Eyolu said that when the dam was silted, there was flooding in the whole village which affected the growing of crops and settlements in the area.

By the time of commencing the desilting and construction works of the dam, the Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze said that it would cost 1.5 Billion Shillings.

Tibamwagaine told our reporter on Thursday that they have so far spent a billion Shillings in the current works.

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