A farmer irrigating her tomatoes garden during a dry season using a solar power system
By Arnest Tumwesige
NAKASEKE: In the dry plains of Namanyoyi Sub-village, Rukuga Village in Butalangu Town Council, Nakaseke District, and access to water has long defined the success or failure of farming seasons.
For Magero Joseph, a perennial crop farmer, the introduction of a solar-powered irrigation system has begun to rewrite that story.
Operating on 2.5 acres of coffee and bananas, Magero says the system has brought relief from recurring losses that often came with prolonged dry spells, especially between January and late February, and again in July when the area experiences intense sunshine.
“This place is very dry, and without water, you lose almost everything,” he says.
Although the system was initially designed to serve his 2.5-acre farm, Magero has expanded its impact beyond his land. Water is pumped to an elevated point, allowing neighbouring 15 farmers to tap into the system and irrigate their own gardens.
Across the surrounding area, production is gradually improving, with farmers cultivating crops such as coffee and maize on larger scales some extending up to dozens of acres thanks to access to water.
“At times, farmers even bring their animals to drink from my valley dam because water sources are so limited,” he explains.
A similar transformation is unfolding in Semuto Sub-county, where Nankya Jane, a 50-year-old farmer from Kitoto Village, has also embraced solar irrigation.
Located in Kikandwa Parish, her farm sits on elevated terrain, making access to water even more difficult. But since acquiring the system in February 2023, she says her productivity has significantly improved.
“The system has helped me a lot, especially because my land is on higher ground and the area is dry,” she says.
Venturing in Horticulture
Nankya grows bananas, coffee, eggplants, tomatoes, and ntula (African eggplant). Previously, she relied on rainfall and only practiced horticulture during the wet season. Today, she has shifted focus to dry-season farming, where market demand and prices are often higher.
For instance, previously, she used to earn about UGX 3 million from half an acre garden of tomatoes. But with the application of the irrigation, the earnings have increased to UGX 6 million.
She invested UGX 6.8 million which is 25 percent of the total cost while the government contributed the remaining UGX 17 million.
Beyond crop production, the irrigation system has also supported her livestock enterprise. At the time of filing this story, she had about 300 kroilers and was planning to buy 500 broilers, all of which now have reliable access to water.
Before acquiring the system, Nankya spent up to UGX 10,000 daily transporting water from sources nearly three kilometres away.
“Now the water is here, and it helps me manage both crops and animals,” she says.
Her project has also extended benefits to at least 10 neighbouring households, who now access water for their own farming activities.
Both Magero and Nankya are beneficiaries of the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Program, a World Bank-funded initiative implemented in partnership with the Government of Uganda.
The only irrigation initiative in the district, was being implemented under the cost-sharing arrangement. Farmers contributed 25 percent while the government covered the remaining 75 percent of the total cost.
Increased production in the district
According to Titus Lwela, the Nakaseke District Agricultural Officer, the programme was rolled out in the 2020/2021 financial year and concluded in 2024/2025.
He notes that most farmers opted for solar-powered irrigation systems over generator-based alternatives due to lower operational costs and sustainability.
“Feedback from farmers shows increased horticultural production and improved pasture growth for livestock,” Lwela says.
The impact is already attracting regional markets. Trucks from South Sudan and buyers from Kenya are increasingly sourcing produce such as tomatoes from Nakaseke an indication of rising output and commercial activity.
However, the benefits are most pronounced in areas hardest hit by drought, particularly within the cattle corridor. Sub-counties such as Ngoma Town Council, Kinoni, and Kinyogoga continue to experience severe sunshine, making irrigation systems not just beneficial, but essential.
As climate variability intensifies, solar irrigation is emerging as a critical tool in stabilising production, improving incomes, and transforming livelihoods in Nakaseke’s dry belt.
