Kenya and Uganda have finally settled on the exact location of the Angololo Dam which will be built on the transboundary Sio-Malaba-Malakisi River. The left bank of the dam will be at Kapesur in Busia County of Kenya while the right bank will be at Osimit in Tororo / Manafwa in Uganda, approximately 45 kilometres from Busia town and 30 kilometers from Tororo. The dam will have a 43.0 million cubic meters water reservoir which will supply water to 20,000 people and irrigate 3,300ha.
“The location was selected because it is the most cost effective in actual construction costs, reservoir operation and water supply reliability and provides maximum returns – it gives us maximum irrigation command area (1,433ha for Uganda and 1,687ha for Kenya) and has the least relocation needs since it is sparsely populated,” said Eng. Panos Antonaropolous the Angololo Project Consultancy Team Leader and Managing Director of Z&A Consulting Engineers Limited which alongside Beta Studio are the two firms contracted by NELSAP, with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to conduct the Full Feasibility studies including the preparation of the Detailed Designs and Tender Documents.
The site selection was done during a series of forums held in Kenya and Uganda at the end of August 2021 by members of the Regional Project Steering Committee (RPSC), Dam Safety Panel of Experts, Inter-ministerial team of Joint Technical Peer Reviewers and community representatives from both countries. The forums included physical site visits to the final two locations before the selection, community dialogue, Technical Peer Review meetings and presentation to stakeholders the various feasibility reports by the consultants. The reports include findings on Water Resources and Irrigation, Socio-Economic, Environmental Issues, Economic Assessment of the project and Dam Location and Design.
Kenyan delegation to the forums was led by the Director of Trans boundary Waters Ms. Gladys Wekesa who was represented by Mr. Chrispine Juma, the Director of Water Resources of Kenya and the Governor of Busia County Hon. Sospeter Ojaamong, represented by the Deputy Governor Mr. Moses Mulomi. Ugandan delegation was led by the Director of Trans boundary Waters Dr. Florence Grace Adongo, who was represented by the Commissioner for International and Transboundary Water Affairs, Mr. Sowed Sewagudde.
“I would like to thank NELSAP for resource mobilizing for this project, which will help in reducing food and energy needs in the two countries, and will promote regional cooperation,” said the Governor of Busia County Hon. Sospeter Ojaamong, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy.
According to the Hydrology Report, the river has annual average inflow of 201.6 million cubic meters which by far surpasses the project water demands of 25.6 million cubic meters per year for irrigation and 1.9 million cubic meters per year for domestic water supply and livestock use.
Next Steps
Following the site selection, the consultants will conduct detailed design and tender documents preparation that will include Bill of Quantities and this will be completed in five months’ time. An independent consultant has begun conducting the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Compensation Framework, and this will be completed in April 2022. In addition, an Environmental Impact assessment will commence late September and will conclude by April 2022.