More Than 50 Kwania Farmers Set to Benefit From Shs 93M Micro-Scale Irrigation Support.

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Uganda, kwania:More than 50 farmers in Kwania District have expressed interest in micro-scale irrigation support worth about Shs 93 million under the 2026/2027 budget, amid an outstanding Shs 78 million pending debt from phase I.

District officials say the cost-sharing programme will prioritize farmers with land, water sources and capacity to raise their 75 percent contribution.

The support is intended to help farmers in sub-counties and town councils install small irrigation systems such as drip irrigation kits and solar-powered pumps.

The money is part of Shs 93 million allocated to irrigation in the district budget for the same financial year. According to a district report, Kwania District Local Government is expecting to recover Shs 171 million from farmers for the financial year, with the irrigation component being rolled out through lower local governments across the district.

Micro-scale irrigation is designed for individual or small group farms, making it more accessible than large public schemes where land, water and infrastructure demands are higher.

The district report indicates that the current beneficiary list covers more than 50 farmers who have shown interest in receiving the support.

George Johnson Ojok Ocen, the Kwania District Production and Marketing Officer, explained that district and sub-county teams have started mobilising farmers to take part in the micro-scale irrigation project.
He noted that local teams are explaining the requirements to farmers before implementation begins.

Under the cost-sharing arrangement outlined by Ojok, government will contribute 25 percent of the project cost, while farmers are expected to raise the remaining 75 percent.
He said beneficiaries must be ready to make their contribution on time because delays could affect the rollout of the project.

Ojok highlighted that the district is prioritizing farmers who already have land and water sources, as well as those able to meet their share of the cost.

Chawente Sub-county is the first lower local government to complete beneficiary selection and cost-sharing, according to the district report.

The report also shows pending contributions from phase I across different areas which includes Abongomola Shs 2.6 million ,Inomo Shs 2.7 million,AtongtidiShs 3 million,Inomo Town Council Shs 3.5 million,Ayabi Sub-county Shs 4.9 million,Nambieso Shs 6 million,Aduku Town Council: Shs 6.6 million ,Akali Shs 8.6 million.

Aduku Sub-county has the biggest pending debt, at Shs 39.8 million, making it the main area with outstanding payments from the listed phase. Ayabi Town Council did not submit beneficiaries for the new phase, meaning it is not reflected among the allocations for selected farmers in the report.

Tadeo Mibula, the Kwania District Senior Agricultural Engineer, noted that this financial year’s allocation is lower than last financial year’s because government decreased funding for irrigation.

Mibula also cautioned farmers against delaying their contributions, saying government funding is tied to the beneficiaries’ ability to meet their share. If farmers do not pay on time, he warned, government money may also be delayed, slowing implementation in the affected areas