Sh2b Kamwenge, Kabarole water project begins

Kamwenge and Kabarole district local governments have started construction of gravity water schemes projects in areas that have for long been water stressed. 

The projects are being funded by the European Union under its sanitation program.  

Nester Tumusiime the project manager says that the scheme was considered by the funders following the demand by leaders. 

"We do water projects and they go hand in hand with sanitation. These come about when the community is water stressed, so we come in mainly to assist the community to be able to live better lives" Tumusiime said. 

He said that Kamwenge has received 1.5 bn shillings while Kabarole has received 1.6bn shillings for the project that is expected to be completed in a space of twelve months. 

In Kamwenge district the project has been launched at Kicheche Sub County and is expected to serve over 10 villages while in Kabarole it has been launched in the newly created Kiko town council. 

Once completed, the schemes are expected to serve over 10,000 people per district for more than 20 years. 

Aggrey Natuhamya the Kamwenge district chairperson hailed the European Union for bailing out the district saying that water shortage in the district has been affecting the government's Universal Primary Education Program in the district.

"We have been having cases in the district where parents absentee their children from school to go and fetch water" Natuhamya said before cautioning the contractors against shoddy work. 

In Kabarole the district chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga commended the European Union for supplementing governments program of extending services nearer to the people.

"Extending services nearer to the population which the European Union is doing today is the core vision of the ruling National Resistance Movement government" Rwabuhinga said.

He disclosed that once completed, the scheme will go a long way in reducing water borne diseases in the district especially bilharzia.

He challenged the locals to embrace the project and to also cooperate with the contractor.