Residents of Nyabuhikye Sub-county in Ibanda District have received a major boost in access to clean and safe water following the handover of the Rwengwe–Nyakatete Solar Powered Water System extension project.
The project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment, was officially commissioned during Sanitation Week celebrations held in Nyabuhikye Sub-county.
Worth Shs451 million, the project is expected to benefit at least 465 residents from the villages of Mitooma, Kayanja and Rujumbura through improved access to reliable and safe water sources.
Speaking during the celebrations, Nyabuhikye Sub-county Health Assistant Amos Betungura said residents had been sensitised on the importance of proper sanitation and responsible use of the new water system.
“We have continued to educate residents on the proper utilization of this water by encouraging them to establish sanitation facilities such as latrines, handwashing facilities, and maintaining proper hygiene at home,” Betungura said.
District leaders described the project as an important intervention in improving public health and reducing the spread of waterborne diseases within the community.
Ibanda District Vice Chairperson Elias Tumubweine urged residents to protect the infrastructure against vandalism and misuse to ensure its long-term sustainability.
“This project is very important for our people, and I call upon residents to safeguard it from vandalism and misuse so that it can serve generations to come,” Tumubweine said.
According to district water access statistics, coverage in Ibanda varies significantly between sub-counties, ranging from as low as 8 percent in Nyabuhikye to about 95 percent in Kicuzi Sub-county.
The district currently has 974 domestic water points serving approximately 169,382 people, including more than 103,000 residents in rural communities.
However, district officials noted that 72 water points have remained non-functional for more than five years and are now considered abandoned.
Authorities expressed optimism that the newly extended solar-powered water system will help bridge the clean water access gap and improve sanitation standards in Nyabuhikye Sub-county and surrounding communities.