Uganda secures AU funds to end water scarcity in S.Sudan, Kenya

Uganda has received funding from the African Union with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank and European Union to end drought in the Great Lakes region.

The multi-million-dollar project aims to purchase and distribute borehole drilling rigs to affected regions in Uganda, South Sudan and the Turkana region of Kenya.

A statement from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Office of the President confirmed that President Museveni submitted and defended the project in 2019.

The first phase will see the procurement of 100 complete rigs to be managed by the respective beneficiaries and local governments. To fast-track the project, Derrick Lukanga Kibirango, an aide to President Museveni, has been assigned to travel to Russia to identify and negotiate with a competent supplier of the rigs and other required equipment.

Procurement is set to take effect between January and February 2023 and to enable delivery and distribution in the first quarter of 2023.