South Sudan’s minister of water resources and irrigation has submitted a memo to the Council of Ministers under the Nyemur/Limur multi-purpose water and resource development project, outlining plans to construct two dams in Uganda.
The Nyemur/Limur project, a joint initiative between South Sudan and Uganda, aims to build dams for irrigation and water supply in both countries.
The project also includes irrigation schemes and provisions for water supply for both human consumption and livestock.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $96 million, with $36 million allocated for the construction of a dam inside South Sudan.
Deputy Information Minister Dr. Jacob Maiju Korok said the Council of Ministers has advised the Irrigation Ministry to adhere to specific guidelines for the project, including consultations with stakeholders and local communities.
When asked about the origins of the project, Korok stated, “It is the technical arm of the government to decide where they can actually put the project. So, it is not actually us that are forcing them to identify certain locations.”
The government has repeatedly delayed the Fula hydroelectric dam project, citing its high costs.
In May, Investment Minister Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing, speaking at the Central Equatoria Business Union’s Juba Economic Forum, said the country lacked the budget for the project, which would require $2 billion.
“The government has initially rejected paying the 15-20% advance payment due to insufficient budget for the project,” the No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper quoted the minister at the time.