Uganda Ministry urges landowners to permit Unyama Irrigation Scheme construction

The Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment has appealed to landowners in the Gulu and Amuru districts to allow construction on the Unyama Irrigation Scheme to proceed before compensation is finalized. The government proposed that compensation be conducted in phases during the construction process to avoid further delays to the project.

The Unyama Irrigation Scheme, part of the US$ 125 million Farm Income Enhancement and Forest Conservation Programme (FIEFOC-3), aims to cover 700 hectares along River Unyama. The project is designed to boost agricultural productivity and reduce reliance on rain-fed farming, which is increasingly vulnerable to dry spells. Once completed, participating farmers will be organized into a cooperative for infrastructure management.

Construction, originally scheduled for May 2025 under contract to Ambitious Construction Limited, has been delayed due to disputes with project-affected persons who demand full compensation prior to surrendering land.