Kamuli, Uganda: Hundreds of residents in Mawembe Zone and Nabitalo A in Kagumba Sub-county, Kamuli District, will benefit from improved access to safe drinking water following the commissioning of a new community borehole, as district officials revealed that only 71 percent of people in the sub-county currently have access to clean water.
The borehole, donated by Sparrows and Eagles International under its Amaadhi n’Obulamu Water Project, was officially handed over to the community on Thursday in a move aimed at reducing the distance many households travel in search of safe water.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Kamuli District Water Engineer Waiswa Tom said the district continues to face significant challenges in expanding safe water coverage, leaving many families dependent on unsafe water sources.
“According to our district records, only 71 percent of people in Kagumba Sub-county have access to clean water. That means many households still walk long distances or use unsafe sources,” Waiswa said.
He noted that while government remains committed to achieving universal access to clean water by 2030, limited financial resources have slowed the rollout of new water infrastructure.
“As government, our dream is to see that by 2030 all people have access to clean water. However, because of budget strains we are doing it slowly. We thank NGOs for bridging the gaps,” he added.
Waiswa urged residents to safeguard the newly installed borehole through proper maintenance and community ownership to ensure it remains functional for years to come.
The Executive Director of Sparrows and Eagles International, Hon. Julius Ntende, said the project was inspired by the persistent water shortages he witnessed while interacting with communities across the constituency.
He explained that access to safe water emerged as one of the most pressing concerns raised by residents, prompting his organisation to invest in community water projects irrespective of political affiliation.
“During my campaign trail in the constituency, I noticed that clean water is one of the biggest problems here. That is why we are helping the community to get clean water without basing on political affiliations. My intention is to drill 50 boreholes in the whole district,” Ntende said.
Residents welcomed the intervention, describing it as a major relief for households that have long struggled to access safe water.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mukyala Miria thanked the organisation for the new borehole but appealed for additional water sources, saying many villages continue to experience acute shortages.
She said the long distances travelled to fetch water have not only affected livelihoods but have also contributed to domestic conflicts in some households.
“We thank Ntende for this borehole. But we are still moving long distances to access clean water, and that has also resulted in domestic violence. We ask government to give us more water sources,” Miria said.
The new borehole is expected to ease pressure on existing water sources while supporting government efforts to improve access to safe and reliable water in Kamuli District.
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