The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development also the Buyanja County Member of Parliament Hon. Matia Kasaija has tasked residents of Kibaale District to vacate wetlands and forests to ensure environmental conservation and also safeguard the government projects that rely on these places.

Minister Kasaija was speaking today while commissioning a 745 million shillings Imara Water Supply System in Imara Parish Mugarama Sub County Kibaale district.

 While commissioning a multi-million Imara Water supply system at Imara parish in Mugarama sub-county, Kabale District, The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development also the Buyanja County Member of Parliament Hon. Matia Kasaija made a call to residents to conserve the environment.

Minister Matia Kasaija says the government has decided to give the people of Imara clean and safe water because they are hardworking and are adding value to the national growth and development.

He says clean and safe water for consumption and production will increase their productivity in the sector of Agriculture and Animal husbandry.

Minister Matia Kasaija says the project has cost the government shillings 745 million.

Minister Kasaija however says that for these projects to thrive there is a need to protect wetlands and forests to ensure that the water catchment levels are maintained.

He adds that the government has enacted a serious law to act upon all the encroachers in the country.

Noeline Kisembo Basemera, the Kibaale district Woman Member of Parliament congratulated the people of Imara upon receiving clean and safe water but asked them to own the water project and use it well to get rid of the rampant communicable diseases.

She also tasked the residents to vacate the wetlands to protect the water levels.

Basemera says clean and safe water is a complement of other government programs like the Parish Development Model to those who will be in Agriculture and animal husbandry.

Amon Rwakiza, the engineer from the Ministry of Water and Environment attached to Mid-Western Umbrella Water and Sanitation says the government has already handed over the project to them for further maintenance and ensuring sustainability.

He says more extension work will continue coupled with sensitization of communities on how to use the water project well.

Kibaale district leaders applauded the government for considering life through the provision of clean and safe water to its citizens.

Fred Matovu, the Kibaale district NRM chairperson applauded the NRM government for providing people with clean and safe water since water is life.

Residents welcomed the water project and said that they have been relieved of long distances; they have been trekking to access water.

The Imara Water Supply System is valued at shs. 745,860,348 has been constructed in three phases with a feasibility study done in the FY 2020/2021 as phase 1 and was contracted by the Karf Aqua Engineering Solutions for phase 2 while Krut Supplies and Logistics did phase 3 for the extension of piped water from Imara to Kitedi 3km.

The water project will serve a population of 35,000 people in Imara Parish bringing the average water coverage for Mugarama Sub County to 64%.