Uganda and Kenya Team Up for a $137M Angololo Project
Odonga Mathew
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Uganda and Kenya have launched a major joint project called the Angololo Water Resources Development Project, worth US$137 million, to fight food insecurity and water shortage in the region. This important project will help over 300,000 people living in eastern Uganda and western Kenya by improving farming, energy supply, and access to clean water.
The signing ceremony took place at Busia Breeze Hotel in Kenya, led by Uganda’s Minister of State for Environment, Hon. Beatrice Anywar Atim, and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Water, Eng. Erick Muriithi. Both countries are working together under the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), through its Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP).
“This project brings us closer as neighbors and will help our people live better lives through farming, fishing, and jobs,” said Hon. Anywar, who confirmed that President Museveni supports the plan fully.
The Angololo Project is also in line with Uganda’s Vision 2040 and matches the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially on hunger, water, energy, and climate action.
What the Project Will Do
The Angololo Project will be built in Tororo, Namisindwa, and Manafwa in Uganda, and Busia and Bungoma in Kenya. Key features include:
A 40-meter-high dam storing 31.6 million cubic meters of water
A 1.3 MW hydro power plant, with plans to add 20 MW of solar power
A 4,000-hectare irrigation system for farming
A water supply network for over 270,000 people
Fisheries and aquaculture programs
Protection from floods and restoration of 30% of the 447 km² watershed
The project is funded by the African Development Bank and NEPAD-IPPF, with extra support from Sweden and Norway. Around $132 million will go into building the infrastructure, while $4.77 million is set aside for land compensation $2.48 million for Uganda, and $2.29 million for Kenya.
Why It Matters for Uganda
Uganda’s Dr. Callist Tindimugaya said the success of the project shows the strong trust between both countries. “We’re working together for the good of our people,” he added.
Local leaders like Hon. John Musila, MP for Bubulo East in Uganda, called it “a blood vein of development” and ended his speech with words of unity: “bless, up up, irie.”
The Nile Basin Initiative’s Director, Dr. Florence Adongo, said the project marks a new step for peaceful cooperation: “Shared waters can bring shared prosperity.”
Also read: Uganda Expands Fuel Supply Chain, Engages Tanzania Amid Kenya Tensions
What’s Next
This project was first discussed in 2010 and approved in 2015. Studies and designs were done between 2020 and 2022, and now the plan is moving into the construction phase. Full operations are expected by 2030.
NELSAP will keep offering technical guidance as Uganda and Kenya move forward with construction and community support.
According to NELSAP’s Regional Coordinator, Dr. Isaac Alukwe: “This is not just about dams or power. It’s about giving real help to farmers, youth, and families in both countries.”
As Uganda faces climate changes and population growth, the Angololo Project offers a real hope for a better and more secure future.
