Access to safe drinking water is a big challenge in Kiziranfumbi Sub County in Kikuube district where the majority of the population are accessing water from unsafe water sources. 

As if this is not enough locals have to walk over 1kilometer to access these water sources.  

Harriet Kabakali, a mother of two from Kinywambeho village reveals that they lack clean water and have no option but to use the available streams and open wells. 

“We know the water is not safe but we have no choice. It is the only well we have and this has been like this for morethan 30 years,” Kabakali says. 

Zainab Kwereme, says mothers and children are the most affected by the lack of safe water points. 

“Sometimes we find snails in the water which I believe cause certain diseases,” Kwereme says. 

“It’s us the women who fetch water here and the children. In a day I can fetch like five jerricans for my family,” she adds. 

Kwereme says, at their well children are discouraged to fetch water from it because of its depth. 

“It is very deep; I can’t risk sending my children here. But some people send them and it is by God’s grace that we have never had an accident,” Kwereme says. 

The round-shaped open well is located in a swampy area surrounded by high grown reeds and trees.  

“Whenever it rains all the dirt is washed into the well. Government should save us and construct for us a better water source,” Kwereme says. 

According to data from the Ministry of Water and Environment, access rates in Kikuube vary from 29 % in Kyangwali Sub-County to 95 % in Buhimba Sub-County.  

Kikuube has 890 domestic water points which serve a total of 198,451 people – 188,033 in rural areas. 59 water points have been non-functional for over 5 years and are considered abandoned. 

Although malnutrition in Uganda has been decreasing in recent years, wasting and stunting levels among children remain very high. The causes of undernutrition in children under five are multidimensional. 

Even when families have access to nutritious food, drinking contaminated water can lead to diarrhea, which prevents the body from absorbing the nutrients in food. 

According to the World Health Organisation, 50% of malnutrition is associated with repeated diarrhoea or intestinal worm infections because of unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, or insufficient hygiene. 

“It is very rare to find us without children in this village. Children are always sick and spend a lot of time and money treating them,” Kwereme says. 

Similarly, poor hygiene practices can cause infection and disease that lead to long-term interference with nutrient absorption. 

Children from fetching water

Right to grow project to help curb malnutrition

Kiziranfumbi Sub County is one of the two sub-counties in Kikuube district benefiting from the Right to grow project that is aimed at curbing malnutrition among children below five years.  

The five-year project implemented by Action Against Hunger (ACF) in Kikuube district is funded by the Netherland government.  

The project is also in other nine districts to ensure that all children to reach their full potential; and no child under the age of five is undernourished aligned to SDG 2.2, ending all forms of malnutrition by 2030. 

Mariam Akiror the Advocacy and Communication Coordinator, at ACF says good hygiene is especially important to the absorption of all the nutrients needed for optimal human development during this critical window. 

“Water is key to human life. It is key to human food security and nutrition. When children don't have access to clean water, it negatively impacts their health, nutrition, education and every other aspect of their lives,” Akiror says. 

She explains that safe drinking water and sanitation are fundamental to the good nutrition, health and dignity of all.  

With water shortages, communities’ behaviours and practices of good hygiene practices are undermined. Inadequate access to WASH services and poor household-level practices contribute significantly to underlying causes of malnutrition in Uganda. 

A reliable water supply is needed to grow food to feed families, secure livelihoods, and provide income for other nutrition inputs. 

According to UNICEF, over 2.4 million children in Uganda are stunted due to a lack of iron, zinc, and vitamin A in their diet, which is an irreversible condition.   

Shadrak Muhumuza, the Kiziranfumbi Sub County, LC3 chairperson they have a challenge of low funding towards the water sector. 

“Last year we only managed to repair only two boreholes and did not establish any new ones because we lack resources,” Muhumuza says. 

Men fetching water from a spring well in Munteme village in Kikuube district

There are about 20 boreholes in the sub-county which has 32 villages but almost half of these are functioning. 

“We encourage people to disinfect drinking water through boiling as the government looks for resources to establish safe drinking water points,” Muhumuza says. 

In order to ensure proper nutrition locals are encouraged to do handwashing with soap prior to food preparation and feeding the child, and after defecation or handling child feces. 

Boiling is the simplest, most available technology that households can use to make water safe for drinking.  

Muhumuza called for more support from stakeholders to ensure improved access to water in the sub-county.