New Motorized Borehole System Transforms Mayuge Community
Commissioning of a new motorized borehole system in Wairasa Sub County, Mayuge District
Residents of Lugwara Quarters village in Wairasa Sub County, Mayuge district, celebrated the commissioning of a new motorized borehole system on May 14, 2024. The project promises to bring lasting improvements to the community. The event featured key guests, including Third Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Isanga Nakadama as the guest of honor, Hon. Aisha Sekindi, the state minister for water, and Ernest Gbekor, the acting country director of WaterAid Uganda.
During the inauguration ceremony, Hon. Aisha Sekindi tasked all district leaders with producing accountability for conditional funds allocated by the government for implementing water systems. She emphasized the importance of distinguishing between government-funded projects and those supported by NGOs.
The government aims to provide every village with a reliable water source by 2030, and Sekindi is on a mission to gather accurate data on district water coverage. She criticized some districts for providing false information, which contradicted reports from local members of parliament.
At this time, the president is asking for accountability of the money sent to districts. We need value for money by separating water systems done by the government from those donated by NGOs
- Hon. Aisha Sekindi
In her address, Third Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Isanga Nakadama praised the partnership between Mayuge District Local Government and WaterAid Uganda, with support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The project involved WaterAid distributing water over 6 kilometers, with four tap stands of six outlets each to the community of Lugwara Quarters.
Community members expressed their gratitude for the new water system, which was donated by Direct Water Aid in collaboration with the Ministry of Water. Village chairperson Etole Gaspero highlighted the significant challenges previously faced by the community, including waterborne diseases and safety risks for women and girls fetching water from distant, unsafe sources.
We used to get water from faraway swamp areas, where our daughters were at risk of being raped. Now, with this new system, cases of domestic violence have reduced as wives can access water nearby.
- village chairperson, Etole Gaspero
The initiative has also promoted hygiene and sanitation practices in the community, encouraging residents to build pit latrines, bathrooms, and handwashing facilities.
WaterAid Uganda's acting country director, Ernest Gbekor, emphasized the organization's commitment to sustainability.
The new water system marks a major milestone in Mayuge district's journey toward improved health and well-being, setting a precedent for future collaborative efforts in Uganda. This project follows a similar initiative in Kamuli district, where a $163,000 water supply system was commissioned in Nawanende Parish, Bugulumbya Sub-County. Funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Kamuli project is expected to benefit over 50 villages for the next 20 years. Community leaders and residents in Kamuli expressed their excitement, highlighting the significant improvements in health and sanitation brought by the new water system.
