Govt to spend sh36b on water

THE Government is to spend US$20m (sh36b) on a programme to provide safe water in the country. State minister for water, Maria Mutagamba, on Monday said the money, received through a grant from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, will be used to drill about 400 boreholes. Mutagamba was commissioning a bore-hole in Nagulu, Namayumba sub-county, Wakiso district. She was invited by the area MP, Gilbert Bukenya (Busiro North). Mutagamba also said the Government's mission is to provide all Ugandans in most rural areas with safe water by 2010. "Each of these bore holes costs about sh15m. The Movement government has already drilled about 142 boreholes in different districts as one of its missions to provide safe water," Mutagamba said. Bukenya told residents they were privileged to have 36 boreholes when other areas have none. Ends