NELSAP HELD THE NYIMUR FEASIBILITY STUDIES INCEPTION WORKSHOP ON 8 TH APRIL 2016 IN KAMPALA, UGANDA The Nyimur Multipurpose Water project is funded by African Water Facility (AWF) of the African Development Bank and managed by the Nile Equatorial Lakes Actions Program (NELSAP) on behalf of the governments of the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of South Sudan. The funding from AWF is for conduction Feasibility Studies, Tender Design Studies, and Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment. The core scheme of the project consists of a 26 m head dam (earthfill type) and reservoir on Nyimur River and five (5) modules of irrigated areas of approximately 5,105 ha and a mini hydropower plant with a capacity of 350 kw. Water supply schemes of the adequate types targeting local communities in the zone of influence of the project will be part of the project. The development of fisheries in the reservoir/ponds will also be included in the scope of the project. The Feasibility studies contract was signed on 8 th January 2016 with consortium of SGI Studio Galli Ingegneria S.p.A (Italy) and Z&A-P. Antonaropoulos and Associates S.A (Cyprus). The Inception Workshop was held on 8th April 2016 in Kampala, Uganda, City Royal Hotel, Bugolobi. The workshop had the following objectives: (i) to review the proposed methodology, schedule for the feasibility studies, and (ii) to increase awareness of the project to the relevant stakeholders of the project. The workshop was opened by the Ms. Florence Adongo, Director- Directorate of Water Resources Management in the presence of the Regional Coordinator, NELSAP. Senior government officials in attendance included the Dr. Callist Tindimugaya - Nile Technical Advisor, Mr. Ochen Mathew Akiya- District Chairman Lamwo District, Mr. Charles Kumakech Oluba -Lamwo District CAO, Mr. Jonathan Rutabingwa -Lamwo District RDC among others.
Figure 1: Ms.Florence Adongo -Director for Directorate of Water Resources Management Opening the Workshop with Eng. Elly E Nyabeeya - Regional Coordinator NELSAP /NBI. Figure 2: Mr. Ochen Mathew -District Chairman Lamwo District addressing the workshop
Figure 3: Mr. Jonathan Rutabingwa -Lamwo District RDC and Mr. Charles Kumakech Chief Administrative Officer listening to the workshop deliberations The delegation from South Sudan of six representatives including presentation from Magwi District, S. Sudan was headed by Eng. Makuac Ador Deng, Director in charge of Irrigation in the Ministry of Water, Dams and Irrigation. Figure 4: Eng. Makuac Deng - Director of Irrigation Republic of S. Sudan listening to the workshop deliberations
The Nile Basin Discourse delegation was headed by the Regional Manager of the Nile Basin Discourse, Dr. Hellen Natu. Figure 5: Dr. Hellen Natu Regional Manager for Nile Basin Discourse at the workshop (last on the table) The core participation was from the relevant ministries both in Uganda and S. Sudan including ministries responsible for finance and economic development; Agriculture, livestock, Irrigation and Fisheries; Water Development; Energy; Environment among others. Other participants were from the Nile Basin Discourse and relevant communities in the project area both from Magwi and Lamwo districts. Representation from the Nile Basin Initiative / Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP) was headed by the Regional coordinator Eng. Elly Elicad Nyabeeya. It included the Mr. Maro Andy Tola -Program Officer in Charge of Water Resources Management and Development and Mr. Ssebuggwawo Vincent the Nyimur Project Coordinator. The consultant s team comprised of experts from the consortium of SGI Studio Galli Ingegneria S.p.A (Italy) and Z&A-P. Antonaropoulos and Associates S.A (Cyprus).
Figure 6: Consultants team listening to the workshop deliberations The workshop highlighted the responsibilities of each stakeholder in ensuring the scope of the project and noted the major management impediments to the project as (i) Land acquisition for temporary access road to the dam site, (ii) Possible mines in the project command area, (iii) creation of a temporary access road, (iv) boarder conflict issues between the communities in the republics of S Sudan and Uganda, and (v) acquisition of flying permits to undertake aerial topographic surveys in the project area. Other issues concerned the improvement of some elements in the methodology of the consultant and have been officially handed over to the consultant for action.