IGANGA: Locals finally get boreholes after years on wellspring waters

IGANGA, UGANDA: Residents of Bulamagi village, Bulamagi sub county in Iganga district have expressed excitement after realizing that three boreholes are to be drilled in their area by an organisation of Okoa Hero’s Child Ministries through Water Charity organisation.

The residents during the project launch on Monday said they have for the past few years been drawing water from an unprotected spring well that exposes them to a risk of contracting waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, among others.

According to the LC1 chairperson of Bulamagi A, Mr Awali Mukuna, the situation always gets worse, especially during the rainy season since most of the waste like human waste from the upland area is washed down to the well and this puts the residents at a high risk of contracting diseases like cholera since the water they are using for domestic purposes is contaminated.

“The situation is majorly worse when it rains because human wastes from the upland areas is washed down into the well and it puts residents at risk of contracting waterborne diseases like cholera,” Mr Mukuna said before adding that they have on several occasions raised voices to relevant government authorities about the need to drill a borehole in their area but all in vain.

Jamila Namukose one of the residents said the owner of the land on which the spring well stands has threatened to chase residents away since he recently purchased the land to set up development projects.

“The land where the well is was allegedly bought by someone and he has threatened to chase us away because he wants to install development projects on the land,” Ms Namukose said before commending the organisation for prioritizing their village with borehole water.

The programs director of Okoa Hero’s Child Ministries, Mr Bashir Mutebi said the organization has secured funding through water charity to the tune of shillings 400 million towards the drilling of fifty (50) boreholes in Iganga district.

“We have since secured shillings 400 million to help us drill fifty boreholes for people in Iganga District. These boreholes will enable them to access clean water for drinking and other domestic work such that they stop using unsafe water from the well,” Mr Mutebi said.

Mutebi added that the organization is to also drill 50 more boreholes this year in the three water-stressed sub-counties of Nakalama, Nakigo and Bulamagi, all found in Iganga district to reduce the burden of walking long distances in search for clean drinking water.

Okoa Hero’s Child Ministries extends it’s assistance to the entire community in a number of sub counties in Iganga district to help women and families with children find their way to a sustainable future.