The MAR Groundwater Project, implemented by NBI with support from GEF and UNDP, will provide access to safe water to over 300 people at each of the five pilot sites. Recognizing NBD’s unique mandate and extensive grassroots networks across the Nile Basin, the project partners have tasked NBD to spearhead community sensitization and awareness-raising at the project sites in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Last week, the Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) took part in the official handover of project sites by the Government of Uganda (GoU) to the contractor for the implementation of the Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) Groundwater Project. The handovers took place on 16th September 2025 in Kakukuru Town Council, Ntungamo District, and on 19th September 2025 in Bunabiro Village, Bwikhonge Sub-County, Bulambuli District.

In Kakukuru, NBD was represented by Eng. Sylvester A. Matemu, Regional Manager; and Ms. Agness Namusiitwa, NBD Board Treasurer and Chairperson of UNDF while in Bunabiro, NBD’s delegation included Ms. Jennifer Kurubeija, Regional Programme Administrator; and Ms. Faith Namansa, NBD Board Member.

The handover ceremonies were presided over by the Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment, represented by Mr. Wycliffe Tumwebaze (Assistant Commissioner), and the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), represented by Dr. Maha Abdelraheem Ismail (Groundwater specialist and Project Team Lead). The events brought together Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), LC 5 Chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), Town Clerks, LC 1 leaders, landowners, and members of the beneficiary communities.

The MAR Groundwater Project: “Enhancing conjunctive management of surface and groundwater resources in selected Transboundary aquifers: Case study for selected shared groundwater bodies in the Nile Basin” is jointly executed by NBI, GEF, and UNDP. Once completed, each site is projected to provide safe water access to more than 300 people.

Recognizing NBD’s unique mandate and extensive grassroots networks across the Nile Basin, the project partners have tasked NBD to spearhead community sensitization and awareness-raising in the four participating countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The Kakukuru site in Ntungamo and Bunabiro site in Bulambuli are part of the five pilot locations under the project, two in Uganda and one each in Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda where site handovers are scheduled to follow in the coming weeks.