The Angololo Multipurpose Water Resources Development Project, set to be signed on April 16, 2025, promises to bring significant improvements to the agricultural and water access conditions along the Kenya-Uganda border. The project aims to boost food production and enhance access to clean, affordable water in Busia County, Kenya, and the Ugandan districts of Tororo, Namisindwa, and Manafwa.
Water scarcity has long been a challenge in the Lake Basin region, despite the area’s proximity to Lake Victoria. The cost of water in this region is often higher than that of soda or packaged juice, a troubling paradox considering the abundance of water resources. Access to clean water remains difficult for many residents, and during dry spells, people are forced to walk long distances to find a reliable water source. Additionally, poor agricultural yields and food insecurity are persistent issues. The region also faces severe flooding during rains, which leads to the spread of waterborne diseases and contamination of available water sources.
In Uganda, the situation is similarly grim, especially in communities sharing transboundary water resources. Many families living around Lake Victoria continue to use the lake water for various purposes, including drinking, bathing, washing clothes, and providing for animals. This shared use of water points contributes to the contamination of the already scarce water supply.
The Angololo project, backed by the African Development Bank and the Kenyan and Ugandan governments, is expected to improve these conditions by providing reliable water access and boosting food production in both countries. The initiative will benefit approximately 300,000 people and will involve the construction of a 30-meter-high dam with a 43-million-cubic-meter reservoir. This dam will serve multiple purposes: supplying potable water to 20,000 people, irrigating 3,300 hectares of land (with 1,180 hectares in Kenya and 2,120 hectares in Uganda), and generating 1.75 MW of hydropower. The project will also help regulate river flow, reducing downstream flooding, and support better catchment management to ensure sustainable water use.
Beyond water supply and irrigation, the project aims to enhance public health by improving sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition through increased access to clean water. By providing reliable water for irrigation, it will also boost agricultural productivity in the region, supporting both local food security and economic development. The inclusion of a mini hydropower plant will help provide sustainable energy, contributing to the development of the region’s infrastructure.
The project is situated within the transboundary Malaba River in the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi (SMM) River Basin, which is part of the Lake Victoria sub-basin. It is a priority project under the African Union’s NEPAD initiative and the African Development Fund’s ADF-14 Programming Cycle. The project will also serve as a model for transboundary cooperation, as it will involve both Kenyan and Ugandan stakeholders working together to manage shared water resources.
The leadership of Dr. Isaac Alukwe, an experienced Kenyan engineer and regional coordinator for the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP), will be crucial in the successful implementation of the project. His expertise in water resources management and regional cooperation will help ensure that the project meets its goals and benefits both nations.
Once completed, the Angololo project will serve as a beacon of sustainable development and cooperation in East Africa, providing not only improved water access but also enhanced agricultural productivity and regional stability.
