Uganda's leader opened a 71 billion shilling agricultural water system on Wednesday in Bukedea District while urging growers to shift rice cultivation from wetlands onto higher ground through mechanical irrigation. President Yoweri Museveni attended ceremonies at the Achomai project in Kamutur Sub-county, stating that moving production away from swamps protects ecosystems while boosting output through controlled watering during dry months.
The facility covers roughly 2,200 hectares and serves nine communities across Bukedea and Bulambuli districts. African Development Bank financing supported construction that includes storage buildings, drying areas and 58 kilometers of access routes. Engineer Athanasius Ssebugwawo said farmers harvested more than 1,800 acres during the previous season, with expectations to reach 2,000 acres ahead. The area previously suffered extreme drought, followed by severe flooding that made habitation difficult.
Speaker Anita Among praised the completion of the infrastructure she had launched during the December 2021 groundbreaking events. Museveni emphasized that capturing runoff prevents destructive floods while enabling year-round cultivation. The president wrapped up campaign stops across Teso before moving into the Bugisu region ahead of the 2026 elections.
The facility covers roughly 2,200 hectares and serves nine communities across Bukedea and Bulambuli districts. African Development Bank financing supported construction that includes storage buildings, drying areas and 58 kilometers of access routes. Engineer Athanasius Ssebugwawo said farmers harvested more than 1,800 acres during the previous season, with expectations to reach 2,000 acres ahead. The area previously suffered extreme drought, followed by severe flooding that made habitation difficult.
Speaker Anita Among praised the completion of the infrastructure she had launched during the December 2021 groundbreaking events. Museveni emphasized that capturing runoff prevents destructive floods while enabling year-round cultivation. The president wrapped up campaign stops across Teso before moving into the Bugisu region ahead of the 2026 elections.
