Kotido: The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), through the Karamoja Drought Resilience (KDR) Project, has hosted a delegation from the German Embassy at the completed Naitakiru Valley Tank in Nakapelimoru Sub-county, Kotido District, as part of efforts to strengthen water security and build community resilience to drought in the Karamoja sub-region.
The project is co-financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank and the Government of Uganda, with investments in water storage infrastructure and related interventions aimed at improving the livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities.
The delegation was led by the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Ms. Alicia von den Boom, accompanied by KfW Portfolio Manager Ms. Rebecca Nanjala. The visit provided an opportunity to assess the completed infrastructure, engage local leaders and communities, and reflect on the persistent water challenges facing the region.
The team began with a courtesy call on the Kotido District Chief Administrative Officer before proceeding to the site, accompanied by Members of Parliament, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, the Speaker of the Kotido District Local Government Council, and district technical staff. At the site, they were received by the KDR National Project Coordinator, Eng. Ronald Kato Kayizzi, the Assistant Commissioner for the Ministry's water directorate, and members of the Naitakiru Valley Tank Water User Committee.
Completed infrastructure amid prolonged drought
During the site inspection, the delegation observed that construction of the valley tank had been completed. However, inadequate rainfall has delayed the planned greening and revegetation around the site and limited water accumulation, underscoring the continuing effects of prolonged dry conditions in Karamoja.
Despite these challenges, the investment represents an important step towards improving access to water for communities and livestock during dry periods. Its long-term benefits will depend on adequate rainfall, responsible water use, catchment protection, and effective operation and maintenance.
Naitakiru Valley Tank is among several water-storage investments under the KDR Project. Planned infrastructure includes five additional valley tanks in Kaabong, Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts; two earth dams in Kotido and Amudat; eight boreholes; and three cattle markets.
Germany reaffirms commitment to drought resilience
Ms. von den Boom appreciated MWE, Kotido District leadership, implementing partners and local communities for their contribution to the implementation of the project. She highlighted Germany's longstanding development cooperation with Uganda, which spans more than six decades and supports sectors including water, energy, education, agriculture and rural development.
Recognising the severe water scarcity affecting communities in Karamoja, she emphasised the importance of using development resources efficiently to deliver lasting and measurable results.
She also commended the active involvement of the Naitakiru Valley Tank Water User Committee in supporting the management and maintenance of the facility, noting that community ownership is essential to sustaining public infrastructure.
“We are proud that German taxpayers' contributions are supporting investments such as Naitakiru Valley Tank to strengthen water resilience in Karamoja. What is important now is that the facility is well managed and maintained so that, when we return in five years, we find it still functioning and serving the community,” Ms. von den Boom said.
She encouraged MWE and area Members of Parliament to build on the project's achievements and advocate for additional water-storage investments for Karamoja during the forthcoming Uganda–Germany government negotiations scheduled for November 2026.
MWE calls for shared responsibility in infrastructure maintenance
Eng. Ronald Kato Kayizzi, the KDR National Project Coordinator, reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to ensuring that the infrastructure delivers lasting benefits to the communities it is intended to serve.
He explained that community management structures had been established to support the operation and maintenance of the facility. He further encouraged district local governments to prioritise maintenance in their budgets and complement community efforts, while MWE continues to provide support for major infrastructure maintenance requirements.
The Kotido District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Oyuku Ocen, highlighted the impact of prolonged drought on livelihoods, including crop failure, food shortages and growing pressure on available water resources.
He thanked the German Government for its support through the KDR Project and called for continued efforts to strengthen the capacity of Water User Committees to manage and maintain the facilities effectively. He also requested MWE to consider desilting existing valley tanks to restore their functionality and ease pressure on newly constructed infrastructure.
Local leaders call for increased investment in water storage
District leaders and Members of Parliament welcomed the German Government's contribution and called for increased investment in strategic water-storage infrastructure across Karamoja. They noted that prolonged dry spells intensify competition for limited water resources, particularly as livestock move within the sub-region and across borders, including from Kenya and South Sudan.
Community representatives expressed appreciation to MWE for completing Naitakiru Valley Tank while acknowledging that the prevailing drought had delayed its effective utilisation.
Members of the Water User Committee pledged to protect the investment and support its sustainable management through community participation, catchment protection and responsible use of available water resources.
The visit reaffirmed a shared commitment by the Government of Uganda, the Government of Germany, local leaders and communities to strengthen water security in Karamoja. It also highlighted the importance of combining infrastructure development with sustainable management, environmental protection and continued investment to help communities withstand the growing pressures of drought and climate variability.