The Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP-CU) is pleased to welcome on board the new Regional Coordinator (RC) Dr. Eng. Isaac Alukwe who replaced acting RC Eng. Maro Andy Tola, whose six years term at NELSAP elapsed on 31st October 2021 after he served with distinction, as the head of the Water Program and later as acting RC. Dr. Eng. Alukwe, 48, is Kenyan and holds a PhD in Water Engineering from Virginia Tech. (USA) an MSc. in Hydro Science and Engineering from Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) Germany and a BSc. In Agricultural Engineering from University of Nairobi, Kenya.

NELSAP Welcomes New RC 3

He brings over 20 years’ experience working in various countries including Germany, Kenya, Spain, South Sudan, USA and Zimbabwe. He has conducted various research and published articles in several international journals. Dr. Eng. Alukwe is the immediate former Water Minister of Busia County of Kenya, and was responsible for water affairs, irrigation, environment, natural resources, and climate change coordination. In that position, he managed resources worth over USD 18.5 million. Prior to that he was Dean, of the School of Engineering and Renewable Energies at Mount Kenya University (Kenya). He has coordinated stakeholders in resource mobilization and negotiation of USD 9.89 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) among others. Speaking during the handover event on 30th October 2021, in Kigali, the incoming RC said, “My first agenda will be successful completion of the 80MW Rusumo Project and to ensure that projects in the pipeline like the 14.5 MW Akanyaru Multipurpose project that will supply water to over 600,000 people in Rwanda and Burundi, among others bears fruits.”

NELSAP-CU is also pleased to welcome on board from Uganda, Mr. Wilfred Ojok, the Senior Economist, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist who replaced Mr. Emmanuel D Chonza who successfully completed his six year term. Dr. Ali Aman from Ethiopia is the new Dam Safety Coordinator. Eng. Damascene Kayiranga from Rwanda is the Kagera River Basin Officer, while Eng. Terence Tumba Ngoda from Tanzania is the new Mara River Basin Officer. Eng Terence replaced Eng. John Situma who left NELSAP-CU upon attaining the NBI retirement age.