A previous attempt to de-silt the river that gets much of its water from the ice melting from the Rwenzori Mountains failed due to rising water volumes.
The government has resumed de-silting of River Nyamwamba, a critical development of the riverbanks to protect against flooding.
A previous attempt to de-silt the river that gets much of its water from the ice melting from the Rwenzori Mountains failed due to rising water volumes.
Initially, over Shs17 billion were invested in constructing gabions to safeguard the riverbanks, but these structures were quickly overwhelmed by the increased water currents.
But now Ambitious Company Limited believes the contract it has taken will settle the problem.
Since 2013, Kasese has been plagued by flash floods, particularly affecting River Nyamwamba.
The floods have resulted in significant damage to infrastructure, crops, and have claimed lives.
In response, the government initiated a comprehensive project in 2022 to restore the riverbanks, investing over Shs30 billion from the World Bank.
This project aimed to enhance the river's resilience by planting bamboo along the banks to provide natural protection against flooding.
Despite these efforts, some of the newly installed measures were destroyed before the project could be officially completed.
The restoration work has now resumed with a revised approach, focusing on using concrete gabions instead of wire mesh in hopes of creating a more durable solution.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Richard Bomera, chairperson of the Nyamwamba Catchment Management Committee, expressed optimism about the new design.
"We believe that the concrete gabions will provide better protection compared to the previous wire mesh structures," he said.
However, Kambale Ferigo, the Member of Parliament for Kasese Municipality, advocates for a more comprehensive solution.
He proposes clearing the entire 21-km stretch of the riverbank rather than just addressing the high-risk areas.
"A complete clearing of the river could be the long-term solution to mitigate destructive flooding," he said.
Jafari Kigutiha, a resident, supports the idea of using standby dredging machinery as an alternative approach, noting that Kilembe Mines successfully managed similar flooding issues without relying on gabions.
As the government works to rectify the previous setbacks, the community remains hopeful that these new measures will offer lasting relief from the recurrent flooding problems of River Nyamwamba.
