Kyankwanzi district gets new sh631m Solar Powered Water Supply System
Despite the commissioning of the Bulaza water project, Nsenga urged the Water Ministry to extend alternative clean water points to other severely water-stressed villages in Kyankwanzi, including Busaana, Mpongo, Kahindu, Rwebotori and Kabada, to ensure wider access to safe water.
Aisha Sekindi, State Minister for Water, draws water from a newly commissioned tap stand during the technical commissioning of the Bulaza Solar-Powered Water Supply System in Kyankwanzi District. (Photo by Juliet Kasiyre)
___________________ Eng. Umaru Ssekabembe (left), Project Engineer, reviews the operational readiness of the Bulaza Solar-Powered Water Supply System as State Minister for Water Aisha Sekindi (right) and other delegates look on during an inspection of the completed works. (Photo by Juliet Kasiyre)
For many years, residents in Kigando subcounty, Kyankwanzi district, have been grappling with water scarcity.
However, following the commissioning of Bulaza Solar Powered Water Supply and Irrigation System, a total of 3519 residents from Bulaza village and surrounding communities in the subcounty will have access to safe and clean water.
State Minister for Water, Aisha Sekindi, who presided over the event on Wednesday, August 19, appreciated President Yoweri Museveni for what she termed enabling Ugandans to have access to safe and clean water.
While reaffirming the government's commitment to Uganda Vision 2040 and global development targets, Sekindi emphasised the national drive to achieve universal access to water and sanitation by 2030.
With funding from United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF), the €147,000 (about sh631m) solar-powered water supply project is part of the Nexus Green Solar-Powered Water Supply and Irrigation system project, supported by the government through the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Since Kyakwanzi is one of the areas which have water supply challenges, Ssekabemba said, the solar-powered water supply system will not only provide clean drinking water but will also reduce the long travel times residents have to endure to distant water sources, especially during the dry spells.
During the commissioning at Trinity Primary School (field) in Bulaza village, Kyankwanzi District on Wednesday, Ssekabemba said that previously, many families fetched water from valley dams, open wells, and ponds. Due to prolonged spells, some communities were forced to share water sources with livestock for domestic use, putting their lives at risk.
“For instance, the whole of Bulaza Village and Kigando Trading Centre had only one borehole, which was at the Trinity Primary School. This borehole, according to the school director, used to pump water from the borehole until 3:00am, with a break of two hours, and then resume again at 5:00am, which was a major challenge,” Ssekabemba narrated.
With the installation of a reliable, piped water supply system, Ssekabemba said, residents have not only extended tap water in their homes but also have access to clean and safe water for domestic use.
The multi-million project was implemented by M/S Nexus Green under the supervision of M/S SARI Consulting Ltd, in joint venture with SGAPI. Some of the key components of the project include a borehole with a pumping capacity of 6 m³/hr (6,000 litres of water per hour), a reservoir tank with a capacity of 40m³ (40,000 litres), and twenty-eight yard taps, among others.
According to the water ministry statistics, as of June 2025, Safe water coverage in Uganda stood at 70%. About 20% of the villages, or roughly about 30% of the population, do not have access to safe and clean water.
During the commissioning, Penninah Natumanya, a pupil at Trinity Primary School, commended the government for this initiative, saying it is not only a relief to children, but also their mothers who used to trek long distances in search of water for domestic consumption.
Since Kyankwanzi is a cattle corridor district, Elisha Namatovu requested the government to also construct valley dams so that their livestock can have reliable water, especially during dry spells.
“I came to this village in 2019, and even the water they brought for me to bathe as a bride was dirty. To be honest, even when I cooked food, my partner would ask me whether I had added sand to it. But I thank the government for providing us with clean water.” Namatovu disclosed.
The Chairman of Trinity-Bulaza Community Water Supply and Sanitation, Rev Father Leonard Katsigazi, appreciated the gov't for bringing water close to people.
However, since milk production is low and also cows die a lot, especially during the dry season, Katsigazi further requested the ministry to construct valley dams so that animals too can have access to water.
The District Councillor of Kyakwanzi district, Clever Nsenga, narrated that, when I was still young, we used to trek about 14km, that is from Kigando upto Kafu around Mpongo swamp in search of clean water, and by then, we used to fetch water from ponds where hundreds of cattle drink from. This water was heavily contaminated, and people got diseases such as cholera, diarrhea among others.” Nsenga disclosed.
To ensure all residents in Kyankwanzi have access to water, Nsenga requested the water ministry to provide alternative clean water points in villages that are severely water stressed such as Busaana, Mpongo, Kahindu, Rwebotori, Kabada among others.