By Charles Kakamwa

SCOUTS from Epsom in the United Kingdom have constructed 12 protected water springs in Mayuge to increase safe water coverage in the district.

The 30-member team led by Neil Dallen and Nigel Bird constructed the springs with Mayuge residents. Bird said they raised sh36m which they used in the exercise.

Mayuge district official Julius Twaali said diseases were rampant in the area due to use of unsafe water by residents.

The springs were constructed in Mayuge town council, Buwaaya, Imanyiro, Baitambogwe, kigandalo and Malongo sub-counties.

“We visited Uganda to enhance our relationship with fellow scouts here and assist needy communities improve their living conditions,” Bird said on Sunday at Imanyiro.

The group also promised to build offices and a conference hall for the Mayuge scouts on a plot of land provided by area leaders opposite Imanyiro sub-county headquarters. The headquarters will be named ‘YUGEPSOM’ from a twinning relationship between Mayuge and Epsom.

They also planted over 5,000 trees at their camping site and schools and donated 50 tents, 10,000 text books, 500 scarves and 1,000 badges to 169 primary schools and 27 secondary schools in the district.