A better future

Kate Nanyonjo and her friends collect dirty water. Soon they’ll be able to collect safe, clean water from a new well.

Credit: WaterAid / Geoff Crawford

Sarah Nanyonjo from Lukose has seen a great change in her life since her third child was born. Her family has recently built a pit latrine which has reduced many illnesses associated with poor sanitation that they used to suffer from.

"We used to have vomiting and diarrhoea, we were always sick because we were using the bush," says Sarah. She goes on to explain that she found using the bush embarrassing too, "I felt bad, you just leave your stuff there for everyone to see and it's not clean."

This situation was compounded by lack of funds. Previously illnesses were left untreated due to the cost - 15,000 Ush (£5) per prescription. Fortunately the children get sick less often thanks to the latrine.

However, water still poses considerable problems and health risks to Lukose residents. Sarah spends six hours a day making four or five trips to a contaminated river to fetch water for herself and her family. "Children fall in the water all the time," explains Sarah. "They become afraid to go back to the water."

Fortunately this will all change as the next phase of Lukose's clean water and sanitation project, a protected well, will soon be completed. This is a cause for great excitement in the village, as Sarah says, "I expect a better life and more income as I will be able to spend time doing better things." These will include spending more time with her children, looking after the home and growing crops in her garden, which will feed her family and be sold to supplement her husband's income as a tailor.

Village chairman Wilberforce Semobwembe explains that more hours available for work will bring further benefits. "The extra money will help the children and improve the homes. We can clothe the children better and pay any medical bills."

The new well is being built by the local community with help, support and training from WaterAid's partner BUCADEF. So far there has been a collective local effort to secure all of the materials needed. Now the building work can begin.

Sarah's ten year-old daughter Kate looks forward to the day when she will have access to clean water. "I feel good that we'll have clean water and we'll be able to clean our things better," she says. Just like her mother, Kate will have much more time on her hands once she doesn't have to make the 45 minute journey to fetch water several times a day. "I'd stay at home and read my books and help my mum with the housework," she says.

So many children like Kate are still missing out on school to fetch and carry water for their families.

Credit: WaterAid / Geoff Crawford

So many children like Kate are still missing out on school to fetch and carry water for their families or due to illness from dirty water or lack of sanitation. WaterAid has so far helped nearly one million people in Uganda, but there is more to be done. The positive news is that the residents of Lukose will soon realise their hopes for a better future with the installation of their new well.