Govt, JICA launch Shs73b Atari irrigation project in Kween

Kween, (UG):- The Government of Uganda, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has officially launched the Project for the Development of an Irrigation System in the Atari Basin Area.

This transformative initiative that aims to boost rice production, enhance food security, and improve livelihoods in Eastern Uganda was unveiled at a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Atari Project Site in Kween District on Thursday afternoon. 

According to Hon Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF), the contract for the project was signed in November 2018 but faced delays due to land disputes, which he described as outright corruption caused by inflated compensation claims.

Tumwebaze emphasized that the two-year project will benefit local communities by promoting year-round farming, enhancing climate resilience, and fostering economic growth.

H.E. Sasayama Takuya, the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, emphasized that the project aligns with the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) Initiative, launched under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) to double rice production in sub-Saharan Africa to 56 million metric tonnes by 2030.

Funded entirely by the Government of Japan, the 680-hectare irrigation system will serve Kween and Bulambuli districts, ensuring a steady supply of water for agricultural activities, regardless of seasonal rainfall variations.

Bulambuli Woman Member of Parliament, Irene Muloni, welcomed the project on behalf of the local community, urging residents to embrace it for their own benefit. She also pledged full support from the local leadership.

The initiative builds on JICA’s 2014 collaboration with MAAIF and the Ministry of Water and Environment to develop irrigation plans for 12 potential sites in Central and Eastern Uganda.

So far, irrigation schemes have been established at three of these sites, with Atari being the fourth—further demonstrating the power of international cooperation in advancing Uganda’s sustainable development goals.