Kiryandongo, Uganda: Kiryandongo District authorities have launched the drilling of deep boreholes and construction of production wells worth Shs477.5 million as part of an intensified push to achieve 100 percent safe water coverage across the district.
The newly launched facilities include production wells at Kirwala, Isunga and Diima villages, alongside deep boreholes at Palee, Lamogi, Kawiti East, Kisaranda, Kitaleba, Kiruli–Kibura, Wakisanyi–Kabungo, Nyamalebe, Kamusenene and Bedmot A villages. The district also commissioned additional safe water infrastructure implemented during the 2024/2025 financial year.
Speaking during the launch at Nyakatiiti II village, Kiryandongo District Chairperson Edith Aliguma Adyeri urged residents to properly utilise and protect government-funded water facilities to improve hygiene and sanitation standards.
“Government has invested heavily in providing safe water. Communities must take responsibility for protecting and properly using these facilities to improve health and living conditions,” Aliguma said, noting that increased access to safe water would significantly reduce water-borne diseases.
Nyakatiiti II Local Council I Chairperson Salim Jacan welcomed the intervention but said safe water coverage in the area remains low, calling on the district to consider extending piped water systems under the Integrated Water Management and Development Project being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment in Mboira Sub-county.
Village elder Venencio Zunga described the long-standing hardships faced by residents who relied on unprotected water sources shared with animals, resulting in persistent cases of diarrhoea. He said the new water facilities will reduce household medical costs and ease the burden on women and children who previously walked long distances to fetch water.
Residents also expressed relief following the commissioning of additional boreholes. Piracel Scovia, a resident of Nyakatiiti village, said the new borehole has eased congestion and reduced time spent queuing for water.
“We used to line up until 9:00pm and wake up as early as 4:00am to fetch water. This new borehole has saved us from the stress and time wasted,” Scovia said.
Mboira Sub-county Chairperson Jean Watumbe commended the district leadership for extending multiple government programmes aimed at improving livelihoods, citing education sector developments including newly furnished classrooms at Mboira Seed Secondary School and ongoing construction works at Mboira Primary School.
District statistics indicate that average safe water coverage in Kiryandongo currently stands at 77 percent. Nyamahasa Sub-county leads with 95 percent coverage, while Mboira Sub-county stands at 78 percent, slightly above the district average.
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