Farmers regain hope in Solar Irrigation in Kasese

23 February 2026, 6:53 pm

By Yoweri Kaguta

23^rd February, 2026

Kasese: Effects of climate change continue soaring in Kasese district as the people report prolonged dry spells, intense rainfall, floods, hailstorms and landslides that have destroyed homes, gardens, bridges, schools, and health facilities.

The situation for the past decade has forced people to adopt to solar irrigation technologies as an alternative measure to continue producing for sell and home consumption.

Kasese district has experienced delayed rainfall and whenever it rains, it has displaced many families who are left on the mercy of donations from the government and well-wishers.

Therefore, climate change is a huge risk and lived reality for communities in the district. These climate shocks interconnect with the deep-rooted gender inequalities, a placing a big burden on women and girls.

Men and boys are equally affected by climate change. Recurrent disasters in the district have also contributed to psychological trauma, and loss of lives. However, the soil fertility in the district is still good but lack of water leads to poor crop harvest.

In 2024, Kasese district Local Government commissioned the Micro-Scale Irrigation Programme that aimed at supporting smallholder farmers to procure micro irrigation equipment at subsidized costs.

According to Mr. Julius Baluku, the District Production Officer, the program was supported by the World Bank through the Uganda Fiscal Transfers Reform [UGifT] and is meant to improve the farmers’ livelihoods through engaging in extensive agricultural activities.

Mr. Baluku explained that the program was designed in line with the National Irrigation Policy and the Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan and all aimed at promoting the development of irrigation advancement.

Mr. Samson Mutswanga, a farmer hailing from Kyarumba Town Council has since benefited from the program and is not regretting. Through the program, Mr. Mutswanga managed to buy a 5000-liter water tank, solar panel and implementing a drip irrigation system.

“I already have more than 3000 cabbages grown here. I tapped water from this flowing river and the water goes directly to the tank. I use this solar system to pump the water”, He said.

Mutswanga explained that he only paid 7.5 million and the rest of the expanses were paid fully by Kasese district local government funded by World Bank.

A drip irrigation is a highly efficient, low volume watering method that delivers water and nutrients directly to a plant’s root zone through a network of values, and pipes. The system is currently working better in Zambia and other African countries.

Mr. Maate Yonah Tumusiime is another beneficiary of Uganda Fiscal Transfers Reform [UGifT]. Mr. Tumusiime explained that in a period of nine months, he has been able to earn more than UGX 7.5 million from a variety of crops he grows including water melons, carrots and cabbages.

He is now using his example to encourage other farmers to utilize the opportunity so that farmers can harvest all the time.

“When I heard about the program, I thought it was like other government programs that sometimes demand a lot of paper work, the only thing I did was to look for the money and I paid, the rest were updates from the district officials telling me how far the process had gone”, Mr. Tumuiime said.

Mr. Benson Agaba, the Kasese District Senior Agricultural Engineer noted that during the implementation of the program, the government subsidizes the procurement of irrigation equipment between 25 percent and 75 percent basing on the choice of the power source with a maximum contribution value of UGX 18 million per farmer.

Mr. Ivan Bwambale Bibuwa, the Local Council chairperson for Kyarumba Town Council is optimistic that Drip Irrigation is a game changer given the vulnerability of Kasese district in areas of climate change and the associated effects.

“This program should have come yesterday, it is a game changer, if you see how the benefiting people are performing, you would appreciate”, He said.