Water ministry to construct boreholes in Serere

The Ministry of Water and Environment has pledged to construct seven boreholes in the villages of Kyere in Serere district.

Addressing residents of Kyere during the closure of sanitation week, the Commissioner in charge of rural water supply and sanitation, Eng Joseph Oriono Eyatu said: "for the next 3 years, every village should have a water source. Therefore, the ministry is committed to building more boreholes for the villages".

Eyatu said drilling of more boreholes will help solve the problem of water scarcity in the region during dry season and provides access to clean water. The theme of the sanitation week was "Good sanitation; How is your leader".

He also advised the people of Kyere to plant trees, saying that it acts as a solution to the scotching sun and keeps the environment safe.

"At the moment you cannot plant trees because the sun is hot but you will plant during wet season". Eyatu advised.

Eyatu also said since babies feed through the nipples that are located on the tip of the breasts, it is advisable that every breastfeeding mother observes high levels of personal hygiene.

He also advised people of Kyere to always wash hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet and immediately before and after eating a meal.

Eyatu said when mothers do not wash their breasts and nipples properly; they expose their babies to various diseases and infections, hence falling sick. He said some of the conditions that can result from a child suckling dirty breasts include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, developing a gaseous abdomen and loss of appetite.

"Breast milk is the basic food for every baby. Besides, being easily digestible, it boosts their immune system, therefore enhancing wellbeing and development," he said. 

According to district health officer Dr. Francis Odeke, Most people of Kyere do not wash hands due to lack of washing facilities. This has prompted the people of Kyere to start using one liter Ruwenzori bottle for washing hands.

Okonopesa looks on as a ministry official washes his hands using a mineral water bottle in one of the model homesteads in Kyere village. Photo by Michael Odeng

Odeke tasked government to build valley dams in Serere district in order to solve the problem of floods in the areas located in landslides.

He added that the government through its ministries should get ways of harvesting rain water so that it is used for food production through irrigation.

"Some of the sub-counties in the landslide that is why when people living in those areas dig toilets and it collapses in a space of 2-3 weeks because the place is swampy," he said. 

Odeke noted that out of 100 villages in Kyere, 64 % have toilets and 56% do not have washing facilities. 

He said sanitation coverage in Serere is 84%, hand washing 56% because they do not have washing facilities and out of 100 villages 84% have toilets.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Serere district, Onya Okonopesa called upon government to design a special programme of extending tape water to areas which are affected by landslides because the people who stay there cannot grill boreholes.

He noted that some the affected areas include Kadungulu, Labow, Bugondo and Kagwara.

The district local leaders including the water ministry officials also toured the villages of Kyere to find out the best model homes with good sanitation.