Magwi leaders voice concerns to FVP over Nyimuri dam project
Local leaders from Eastern Equatoria’s Magwi County have met with First Vice President along with water minister in Juba and raised their concerns over the proposed construction of a dam at Nyimur river along South Sudan -Uganda border.
They include 10 representatives from the Acholi community and 18 from Ma’di Community with Members of Parliament among them.
At the meeting, Water and Irrigation Minister Pal Mai reportedly briefed the local leaders about the project which sparked outraged among the communities.
This comes weeks after he revealed that South Sudan and Uganda were considering construction of two dams for irrigation and water supply at Limur (Nyimur) River shared by Magwi County and neighboring Lamwo District.
On 3 October, Minister Pal Mai Deng presented a memo concerning the 98 million-US dollar joint project to the Council of Ministers.
Known as Limur Multi-purpose Water and Resource Development Project, the initiative aims to support irrigation schemes and provide water supply for both human consumption and livestock needs in the two nations.
Disclosing the project to media following a cabinet meeting, Information Deputy Minister Maiju Korok said one dam would be built on the South Sudan side at an estimated cost of 36 million US dollars.
According to Dr. Korok, the cabinet delayed the project and directed the Water and Irrigation Minister to provide maps for the project area and tasked to do consultations with other stakeholders including communities.
In a statement dated 19th October, obtained by Eye Radio, the two communities are concerned about the recent encroachment by Ugandan and argued that the project could exacerbate the issue.
According to them, their fear is that any changes in the land use could lead to disputes over territory and resources, exacerbating existing tensions.”
They also questioned the intention of the project which they say proposed access to water sources for 60,000 livestock in an area where the locals are crop farmers.
The two communities went on to inquire where the cattle would come from since they are crop farmers.
The native viewed this as ploy to resettle people from elsewhere at the expense of the locals and they rejected.
The Acholi and Ma’di communities also alleged unrealistic mapping of the area that does not accurately reflect local geography or land ownership, causing scepticism about the project feasibility.
They also dismissed a factsheet which they claim was presented to them during yesterday’s meeting, indicating Magwi is a flood-prone area and food insecure.
Another fear the local leaders raised, are potential water pollution, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity that might result from large-scale irrigation practices.
The Acholi community through their Chairman said they had written to the Africa Development Bank which is the alleged funder of the project, but the Bank said it was unaware.
The Bank, according to the community leaders said, it does not fund project without following the due process of best practices and comprehensive Community Consultations.
Nyimur River is a transboundary river that connects communities in both South Sudan and Uganda.
It is located in the Aswa river basin and covers just over 31 thousand square kilometers in northeastern Uganda and in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan.
According to the Nile Basin Initiative, the Aswa basin, both in Uganda and South Sudan, has over the previous years, been theatre of armed conflict, acute social insecurity and mass displacement of populations from rural areas towards more secure congregated settlements.
Organizations such as the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP) has facilitated citizen and community engagement between the two countries to manage this shared water resources to avert conflict.
