Residents of Nkose and Nkese Islands in Kalangala District are demanding immediate government intervention over stalled and failed water projects worth UGX 2.8 billion.
Launched in 2025 by the Government of Uganda to improve access to clean water in island communities on Lake Victoria, the projects have yet to deliver, leaving residents frustrated and without safe water sources.
Contracts for mechanized water systems on both islands were awarded to Nexus Green, with funding from United Kingdom Export Finance. The plan aimed to install high-tech water systems across the islands.
On Nkose Island in Mazinga Sub County, a UGX 1.8 billion project was intended to serve the busy landing sites of Katooke and Lugala. Meanwhile, UGX 1 billion was allocated for a similar system on Nkese Island in Bubeke Sub County.
Months after the six-month completion period, the systems remain either incomplete or dysfunctional. On Nkose Island, construction stalled before completion, leaving what residents describe as a shell of a project.
Henry Lubulwa from the Kalangala Resident District Commissioner’s office said repeated attempts to engage the contractor have failed.
“We have reminded them several times to return and complete the site, but they have adamantly refused. We do not know whether the project was abandoned altogether,” he said.
On Nkese Island, the system reportedly failed during its first attempt to deliver water. Officials now point to poor technical decisions as the likely cause.
A procurement officer revealed that advice to install the pump in a safer, more suitable location was ignored.
“They chose a risky site because it was cheaper. The system never worked. All that money never benefited our people,” the officer said.
The combined UGX 2.8 billion investment has sparked suspicions of inflated costs, mismanagement, and possible corruption.
According to the district water department, a fully functional water system in Kalangala typically costs no more than UGX 400 million.
Residents are openly questioning how such a large investment could result in non-functional or unfinished projects.
“When you visit the Nkose site, nothing meets the required standards. We are left waiting indefinitely. If the water was flowing, at least it would make sense. But it was never finished,” said Gerald Kamali, a resident.
Islanders are now calling on the Inspectorate of Government and other anti-corruption bodies to investigate Nexus Green and its partners.
They are also appealing to the British High Commission, given the involvement of UK-backed financing, to ensure accountability for what they describe as “no value for money.”
Allegations behind the scenes suggest the project may have been compromised by internal corruption, including demands for kickbacks that weakened oversight and allowed the contractor to default. While unverified, these claims add weight to calls for a comprehensive probe.
Attempts to obtain a response from Nexus Green have been unsuccessful. Multiple calls and emails have gone unanswered, deepening mistrust among stakeholders.
Shahid Muliika, an official from the Ministry of Water and Environment present at the project launch, has pledged to follow up and ensure the contractor fulfills its obligations.
Nexus Green had also been earmarked for additional projects in Bubeke and Bufumira sub counties, raising fresh concerns about future risks.
For the people of Nkose and Nkese, the issue is not only financial, it is about dignity, health, and survival. Without reliable water systems, residents continue to rely on unsafe sources, exposing themselves to waterborne diseases and daily hardship.
What was meant to transform lives now stands as a symbol of broken promises. Islanders are left asking a simple question: how does UGX 2.8 billion vanish into projects that never delivered a single drop of water?
Until answers come, the taps on Nkose and Nkese will remain dry, and so too will the trust in the systems meant to serve them.
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