Several parts of Busoga are grappling with access to safe water, with several interventions not benefiting local communities.
In Kaliro and Luuka districts, communities are depending on interventions from the civil society – with the local governments unable to come to their rescue.
Despite the rains intensifying in most parts of the country, access to safe and clean water is still a big challenge in some parts of the Busoga Sub- Region where communities still depend on open water sources.
The most hit areas include Bukamba, Budomero and Nawaikole sub-counties in Kaliro district and Ikumbya Sub-county Luuka district where people are trekking long distances to fetch water.
Coupled with poor hygiene, and open defecation due to lack of latrines and handwashing facilities, area residents and leaders attest that using water from open wells was a source of water-related illnesses like Bilharzia and typhoid. This often raises expenditure on health.
Kaliro District Vice Chairperson Richard Bakobeire says many sub-counties like Bukamba, Budomero, Nawaikoke and Bumana are facing a shortage of water with a coverage of less than 20%.
In a bid to improve the lives of such communities, Uganda Counselling and Support Services, a nonprofit organization has over the past 12 years come up with several interventions in Buyende, Kaliro and Luuka districts to enable residents’ access to safe water.
These interventions have included the Vision for a Healthy Village initiative where boreholes have been drilled, health facilities constructed as well as schools built.
Despite these interventions, a lot still needs to be done to better livelihoods.