Mayuge, (UG):- The State Minister for Water, Hon Aisha Sekindi has tasked all district leaders to produce accountability of conditional grants allocated by the government to respective districts in implementing water systems.
While commissioning a water system in Lugwara Quarters Village, Wairasa Sub County in Mayuge District, Hon Sekindi said some districts have since given accountability on water sources donated by the NGOs and she demanded that every district should separate water sources from conditional grants and those provided by NGOs.
The Minister says some districts hide in Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) projects and give accountability like they used conditional funds.
“At this time, the president is asking for accountability of the money sent to districts and he directed me as the line minister to come up with a report on conditional grants sent to districts. We need value for money by separating water systems done by the government and others donated by NGOs,” Minister Sekindi said.
According to the minister, the government intends to cover every village with a water source by 2030 and she is on the ground to get a factual report on district water coverage.
Ms Sekindi blamed the districts for giving the ministry false information on water coverage amongst communities, saying the district records contradicted information which was known to members of parliament from specific areas.
The water system was donated by Direct Water Aid in collaboration with the Ministry of Water. Minister Sekindi tasked all local leaders including LCVs, LCIIIs and councillors to do supervision and oversight on government projects to avoid mixing government and NGO projects.
The third deputy prime minister of Uganda, who is also the Woman MP for Mayuge district, Hajjat Hon Rukia Isanga Nakadama commended Water Aid for supporting the government in service delivery and pledged to ensure favorable conditions for more organizations to support locals in Mayuge and Uganda as a whole.
The village chairperson Mr. Etole Gaspero stressed the challenges in accessing clean and safe water, notably waterborne diseases, unclean waters from longer distances and the high population in the area which could not benefit well from the one source of water in the area.
He commended the Water Aid for promoting hygiene and sanitation in the area, by encouraging people to have pit latrines, bathrooms, and tip-taps for washing hands, among other things that promote home hygiene.
The country director Water Aid Uganda Mr. Ernest Gbekor said they intend to ensure the sustainability of projects to save generations and that sometimes they work with the Ministry of Water to maintain water facilities for the benefit of the communities as it plays a part in expanding water coverage.
“Sustainability is key and that is one of the fundamental things for WaterAid to save generations and last longer than it was intended. This is where we work with the ministries and other actors to be able to maintain this facility so that the community will always enjoy it because it is a massive investment and we need to protect it,” Mr Gbekor said.
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