The 2015 Nile Day was at country level celebrated on February 22, 2015 in Bungoma County, Kenya within the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi River Basin. The event was attended by a wide number of stakeholders from both Uganda and Kenya. The theme of this year’s Nile Day was “Water and Improved Livelihoods - Opportunities in Nile Cooperation”,
The Nile day is annually celebrated both at regional and national level within the NBI Member States – which include Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer. The objective of the event is to stimulate region-wide awareness regarding the management and development of the common Nile Basin water and related resources for improved livelihoods of the basin communities. The Nile Day is also an opportunity to increase the visibility of NBI among Nile Basin beneficiary citizens as well as its achievements and challenges while searching ways and means to further the Nile cooperation.
The Sio Malaba Malakisi River Basin Project is one of the three transboundary integrated water resources management and development projects being implemented within the framework of the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP) of the Nile Basin Initiative. The project in collaboration with Manafwa District Local Government and Bungoma County Government constructed Lukhuna, Sitabicha and Chepkaraam suswo irrigation demonstration schemes at Manafwa (Uganda), Sirisia and Cheptais (Kenya) districts respectively. The schemes were identified as part of sub catchment management planning processes and were implemented as part of efforts to contribute to enhanced participatory integrated land and water management in selected critical watersheds. These irrigation demonstration schemes will increase efficiency in utilization of water and land which will lead to high agricultural production and thus increase food supply and incomes and eventual improved livelihoods of the communities.
The ceremony was officiated by Hon. Flavia Munaaba Nabugera, State Minister for Water and Environment Uganda, the Principal Secretary, State Department of Water and Regional Development in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Kenya, Mr. James Teko Lopoyetum, and Ms. Karin Andersson, Head of the Regional Development Cooperation Section at the Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi. The day was also honored by high level officials from Uganda and Kenya, Members of Parliament, the Governor of Bungoma County, Bungoma County Commissioner, the Resident District Commissioners, the LC V Chairmen from Manafwa and Tororo districts, government officials from Kenya and Uganda and staff of the Nile Basin Initiative.
The eve of the Nile Day was marked by the cleaning of Lwakhakha border posts and Lwakhakha river by the neighboring population, officials of both Kenya and Uganda and Nile Basin Initiative staff. The Nile Day was celebrated by the concurrent commissioning of the Lukhuna (Uganda) and Sitabicha (Kenya) Irrigation Demonstration Schemes constructed with the funding from Royal Swedish Government and planting trees. Thereafter, the two delegations congregated at the Lwakhakha Primary School in Bungoma County for the 16th commemoration for the birth of the Nile Basin Initiative during the year 2015.
In her remarks, Ms Karin Andersson highlighted the importance of implementing the sub-catchment management plans developed by the River Basin Management projects; “we hope that the irrigation demonstration schemes that we saw today as part of the SCMPs will serve the communities and will encourage other communities to learn from the latter and implement similar schemes”. The representative of the Swedish Ambassador commended NELSAP for the success of the RBMs; she added that “NELSAP has become a competent institution that plays an important role in providing technical advice on transboundary water resources management and development to its member countries
The Ugandan State Minister for Water and Environment, Hon. Flavia M. Nabugera reiterated her appreciation to the government of Sweden for supporting small scale initiatives that immediately bring direct benefits to communities as preparations for large investments progresses. She said that “the potential for such schemes in this region is high and once developed, thousands of acreages will be put to more productive use and improve the livelihoods of our communities”. The benefits of these schemes are enormous as compared to the investment costs.
The Principal Secretary, State Department of Water, Mr. James Teko Lopoyetum, on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water, Kenya noted that Sitabicha and Chepkaraam Suswo Micro Irrigation Demonstration Schemes will benefit approximately 400 people through improved production of horticultural crops. Therefore, the economic status and living standards of the beneficiaries are expected to improve, thus reducing poverty. He noted that the irrigations demonstration schemes are expected to be replicated by the National and Local county governments in order to benefit more communities within the basin.
These irrigations schemes are expected to trigger development of small irrigation schemes and replicated in within the region. It will contribute to the livelihoods of communities that have been relying on rainfed subsistence as well as rudimentary and labor intensive irrigation practices. In this line, Sitabicha and Chepkaraam Suswo Irrigation Water User Associations were formed and capacity built for the members to ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of the demonstration scheme
The Lukhuna scheme will directly benefit about 66 households (500 people) through improved production of high value horticulture crops.
Water User Associations from Sitabicha and Lukhuna schemes were formed and capacity was built for the members to ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of the demonstration scheme.
