The North Kigezi and Kinkiizi Diocese (NKKD) WATSAN program has commissioned a rehabilitated community spring in Nyarutooma Cell, Nyakabungo Parish, Buyanja Sub-county, Rubabo Constituency, Rukungiri District, marking a significant milestone in improving access to clean and safe water for residents.
The commissioning ceremony was presided over by the Bishop’s Commissary, Rev. Canon Elisha Wasswa, who represented the Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe.
The event attracted local leaders, church leaders, WATSAN officials, and members of the community who gathered to celebrate the achievement.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Canon Wasswa urged residents to appreciate and properly utilize the spring, while remembering the individuals and partners who contributed towards the successful rehabilitation of the water source.
“This spring will serve all people regardless of religious affiliation, including Anglicans, Catholics, and Muslims, and should remain a unifying factor within the community,” he said.
Canon Wasswa further stressed the importance of hygiene and sanitation, encouraging residents to maintain cleanliness in their homes and ensure that water containers are regularly cleaned.
He noted that access to clean water promotes healthy living and commended residents for electing leaders who worked collaboratively with WATSAN to secure safe water for the community.
Canon Wasswa also cautioned residents against conflicts at the water source, emphasizing that cooperation and proper maintenance would ensure the spring serves the community sustainably for many years. During the same function, he encouraged especially men to seek God and remain faithful in their spiritual lives.
The NKKD WATSAN Coordinator, Rev. Moses Kabareebe, expressed gratitude to Bishop Onesimus Asiimwe for honoring the occasion and highlighted the ongoing work of WATSAN in promoting water and sanitation in North Kigezi and Kinkiizi Dioceses with support from the UK Support Group.
Quoting the WATSAN motto, “Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity,” Rev. Kabareebe explained that the program focuses on the construction and rehabilitation of springs and wells, alongside community sensitization on sanitation and hygiene practices.
“We urge residents to establish by-laws that will help protect the water source, create a maintenance fund, and hold regular meetings to ensure sustainability of the spring,” he said.
The Archdeacon of Nyabiteete Archdeaconry, Venerable Enock Karamuzi, urged the community to protect the spring, noting that beyond providing water, the source would also strengthen unity among residents by bringing together people from different parts of the area.
Venerable Karamuzi thanked WATSAN for preaching the Gospel not only through words but also through practical actions that transform communities.
The rehabilitated spring cost approximately Shs 5.6 million.
The local community contributed to the project by providing hardcore stones, gravel, labor, and meals for the builders, in addition to raising Shs 300,000 for materials that could not be sourced locally.
Marius Katunguka, the Sustainability Mobilizer for NKKD WATSAN, encouraged residents to use the spring responsibly and protect it from contamination.
He warned against allowing animals, especially cows, to graze near the water source and advised the community not to plant eucalyptus trees around the spring because they drain the water table.
Speaking on behalf of the government, LC I Chairperson, Kenneth Zoreka, thanked the Diocese and WATSAN for providing clean water to the community.
He appreciated residents who participated in the construction activities and encouraged continued cooperation in maintaining pathways leading to the spring as well as ensuring water containers remain clean.
On behalf of local residents, Wilber Atamba, Chairperson of the Construction Committee, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed towards the success of the project.
He noted that the community now expects a reduction in waterborne diseases due to improved access to clean and safe water.
The community’s original spring, which had served residents for more than 40 years since being constructed in the 1970s, had worn out and could no longer accommodate the growing population, prompting the rehabilitation initiative.
