The facilities built by Beijing Uni-Construction Group Co (BUCC) in Uganda will supply people with drinking water until 2033. The facilities include six reinforced concrete tanks, one of which is a pressure tank (2m3) and three elevated hot-pressed steel tanks.
The second phase of the Lirima Gravity Flow Scheme also saw the installation of 53.7km of primary distribution pipes, 60km of secondary water distribution pipes and 45.85km of treated water pipes. BUCC also connected 1,700 households to the national drinking water network with 85 km of pipe lines. The Chinese company carried out this project in partnership with Studio Galli Ingegneria, an Italian consultancy firm specialising in the water, environment, civil engineering, transport, urban planning, landscape management and renewable energy sectors.
Drinking water tanks ©Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment
Facilities operated by NWSC
This component of the Lirima Gravity Flow Scheme was co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Uganda. The new drinking water facilities will supply over 173,360 people in 13 sub-counties in Manafwa District (Sibanga, Bugobero, Nalondo, Butta, Butiru, Busukuya, Bukhoofu, Khabutoola); Mbale City (Bumasikye, Busiu, Lukhonge); Tororo (Molo and Merikit) and Butaleja (Himutu).
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The Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment, which is leading the programme, has entrusted the operation and maintenance of the new drinking water facilities to the state-owned National Water and Sewage Corporation (NSWC), headed by Silver Mugisha.
Inès Magoum