By Entebbe Post
Island residents on Nkose and Nkese Islands want government of Uganda to immediately hold accountable, prosecute and penalize Nexus Green, a company that was given the mandate to construct two high tech water systems on both islands.
The residents also want Nexus Green to refund the money, up to Ugx 2.8 billion that was given to them and did not operate, despite agreeing to a six months grace period to deliberate and have the water systems in place.
In 2025, government of Uganda launched the construction of a mechanized water system on Nkose Island in Mazinga Sub County. The system was expected to cost Ugx 1.8 billion, serving two landing sites of Nkose Katooke and Lugala, in Mazainga.
Also another Ugx 1 billion was deliberated to construct a water system on Nkese Island in Bubeke Sub County. Both contracts were awarded to Nexus green while funding was gotten from the United Kingdom Export Finance.
However, despite the end to the deadlines, Nexus Green never completed the water plant and transmission site on Nkose Island. “We have reminded them several times to come and complete the site but have adamantly refuse to come and complete it. We are not sure if they did not abandon the site.” Says Henry Lubulwa from the Kalangala RDC’s office.
Also, the Nkese – Bubeke site on Nkese Island got spoilt on its maiden transmission of water to the people in the area. “We guided them to fix a pump and the water system in an area that is more secure but because they thought it would be expensive, they chose a dangerous place and the water system never operated for our people. All that money never worked for our people,” said a procurement officer in Kalangala.
The Ugx 2.8 billion used in the construction of the utilized water sites in Kalangala, according to the Kalangala water department remained a high cost within the area since a functional water system in Kalangala usually costed not more than Ugx 400 million.
Islanders now want the British High Commission, all government anti-corruption agencies to immediately hold accountable and penalize Nexus green and its partners for doing shoddy work in Kalangala saying there is no value for the money used to do the work.
“When you get to their site in Nkose, nothing meets standards and, we are now here waiting indefinitely. At least, there if the water was operating, it would make sense. However, it was never finished, even with the poor materials used despite the many resources invested. We now call on the Inspectorate of Government to immediately intervene to ensure that island residents find value for money,” one of the leaders in Kalangala told this website.
A highly placed source within the Ministry of water and environment told this website that Nexus Green seemed an enroute for swindling of the resources since many of the officials within the same system requested for kickbacks that led to further relaxation by the contractor and his later failure to complete the Ugx 2.8 billion water systems.
Shahid Muliika, an officer at the Ministry of Water and Environment who participated in the launch of both projects promised to follow up with the contractor, Nexus Green to ensure that the projects are complete. The contractor was expected to handle two more water sites in Bubeke and Bufumira sub counties in Kalangala District.
When contacted, the Nexus Green team did not respond to telephone and email communication from this website on several occasions the team reached out for a comment on the said matter.
