KAMPALA – Bukooli North MP Hon. Ayagalachi Jamal has called for increased public sensitisation over the Amagoro Irrigation Scheme in Moi Town Council and Bulugwi Sub-County, Bugiri District, following growing concerns among residents about possible flooding and loss of land.
Raising a matter of national importance before Parliament in Kampala, Ayagalachi said communities in the project area were living in fear because they had not been adequately informed about the scheme, its operations and the potential impact on their livelihoods.
The legislator explained that residents had observed water being drawn from River Malaba and transported through large pipes to the project site, raising questions about how the irrigation system would operate, particularly in an area already prone to flooding.
He noted that the low-lying nature of the area had heightened public anxiety, with residents fearing that the introduction of additional water could worsen flooding and affect their homes, gardens and agricultural land.
Ayagalachi further expressed concern that communities had not received clear information on whether land would be acquired for the project, the extent of any proposed acquisition and whether people whose land could be affected would receive compensation.
He consequently asked government to suspend operations on the project until adequate sensitisation had been conducted to explain its purpose, implementation arrangements and expected benefits to the surrounding communities.
The MP also called on the responsible ministry to clarify whether the Amagoro Irrigation Scheme was a government project and explain what the people of the area stood to gain from its implementation.
In response, the Deputy Attorney General acknowledged that government might not have moved at the required pace in sensitising the affected communities but argued that public engagement could be strengthened without halting the ongoing works.
He maintained that irrigation was an important component of government efforts to achieve food security, adding that stopping the project entirely would not be the best approach when sensitisation could continue alongside implementation.
The Speaker of Parliament also weighed in, observing that government should have prioritised community sensitisation before introducing such a major irrigation project, particularly in an area where residents had limited understanding of its operations.
The Speaker further pointed to the importance of involving local leaders, including the district leadership and area representatives, warning that failure to engage them early could create unnecessary suspicion and fear among the communities.
The Deputy Attorney General subsequently pledged that government would engage local leaders and the area MP in the coming weeks to intensify sensitisation and ensure residents receive accurate information about the project.
The proposed engagement is expected to help address community concerns, clarify the project’s objectives and explain its anticipated benefits as government continues with the irrigation initiative.
