Residents of Kitaka and Nyakasenyi parishes in Kitagwenda District are celebrating improved access to safe and clean water following the commissioning of two production water projects aimed at reducing water shortages and improving public health in the area.
The projects, worth Shs109 million, were commissioned in Buhanda and Kakasi sub-counties and are expected to benefit at least five villages in each sub-county.
For years, communities in Kitaka Parish, Kakasi Sub-county, have struggled to access safe water, forcing many residents, particularly women and children, to walk long distances in search of clean water. The challenge exposed families to water-borne diseases such as typhoid and water-washed illnesses including cholera.
Residents welcomed the projects, saying the intervention will ease daily hardships and improve living conditions.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Kakasi Sub-county Female Councillor Allen Komurembe described the projects as a turning point for the community.
“Women and children have suffered for a long time walking long distances to fetch water. This project will reduce that burden and improve the well-being of our people,” Komurembe said.
The Kitagwenda District Water Officer, Peter Sseremba, explained that the boreholes were designed as production water sources with future expansion in mind.
“These are production boreholes. In the coming financial years, the district intends to develop and extend the water system so that more villages can benefit from safe and clean water,” Sseremba said.
The Kitagwenda District Chief Administrative Officer, Moses RK Dalili, urged community members to take responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure to ensure its long-term sustainability.
“Water user committees should mobilise small contributions from residents to support minor repairs and ensure the sustainability of these projects,” Dalili said.
Presiding over the commissioning exercise, Kitagwenda Resident District Commissioner Isiah Kanyamahane called on residents to make productive use of the new water sources to improve their livelihoods.
“This water should not only improve health but also support household development and help communities fight poverty,” Kanyamahane said.
Access to safe water remains a major development challenge in many rural parts of Uganda, with communities often relying on unsafe sources that increase the risk of disease outbreaks and place a heavy burden on women and children.
Health officials believe the newly commissioned projects will significantly improve access to safe water services and reduce the prevalence of water-borne and water-washed diseases across the district.
The commissioning is expected to improve public health outcomes, enhance sanitation and hygiene, and reduce the time households spend collecting water, particularly in underserved communities across Kitagwenda District.