Luweero District is set to benefit from three solar-powered irrigation systems under a government-funded Shs735 billion loan aimed at expanding climate-smart agriculture across the country.
The project, approved by Parliament, will see the installation of 427 solar-powered irrigation schemes in more than 100 districts, targeting thousands of smallholder farmers affected by erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells.
State Minister for Finance and Economic Planning (General Duties), Ms Cissy Mulondo, confirmed that Luweero is among the selected beneficiaries, during a thanksgiving service held at Kamira Town Council on June 13, 2026.
‘We are blessed to have three irrigation sites for Luweero under the planned solar-powered irrigation systems project recently approved by Parliament. You are urged to utilise all the opportunities at your respective areas targeting livelihood improvement,’ she said.
Ms Mulondo also encouraged farmers to tap into the Parish Development Model (PDM) to improve household incomes, saying the irrigation initiative would complement other government wealth creation programmes.
Luweero District LC5 Chairperson Mr Erasto Kibirango welcomed the development, noting that the district has long lacked formal irrigation infrastructure despite its dependence on agriculture.
‘We have no single irrigation scheme in greater Luweero. We welcome all government initiatives that target helping our farmers access water in their gardens. We are largely a farming district but challenged by climate change,’ he said.
Agriculture experts say the irrigation project could significantly boost productivity in a region increasingly affected by unpredictable weather patterns.
Ms Elizabeth Namuli Nakato, a retired agriculture officer and farmer in Zirobwe Sub-county, said Luweero has untapped water resources that could support large-scale irrigation if properly harnessed.
‘We have a potential to utilise water bodies including Rivers Mayanja, Ssezibwa and Kafu for irrigation. Irrigation is the way to go for our farmers,’ she said.
The irrigation programme follows government efforts dating back to 2018 when President Yoweri Museveni proposed the development of a scheme on River Daje (Danze) to support farming in Luweero and neighbouring Nakaseke District.
Government says the current phase of the project is part of a broader plan to establish solar-powered irrigation systems targeting coffee-growing areas in 126 districts.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the initiative is expected to benefit more than 2,500 households and strengthen agricultural productivity nationwide.
Officials say the intervention is expected to reduce reliance on rainfall farming and improve resilience among rural farming communities.