By Anthony Bugembe

A NEW water purifier has been launched in Kampala. The CrystalPur water filter eliminates bacteria, parasites and dirt from water.

“It can purify six litres in one hour and is more durable than most ceramic filters. This makes it 75% cheaper than filters on the market,” said the executive director of At Uganda, Rita Laker Ojok.

The filter would make it easy for most Ugandans to get clean and safe drinking water, Ojok said while launching the equipment at Kyoto Restaurant in Kampala on Wednesday

Uganda is a pilot market in Africa, she added.

Ojok explained that CrystalPur would be distributed by Twiga Chemical Industries at sh19,500 each.

A total of 5,000 purifiers, Ojok disclosed, would initially be sold in Kampala, Entebbe and Wakiso districts.

She said about 3,500 pieces would be distributed to schools for free.

“The filters eliminate the need for bottled water and lower medical bills,” Ojok said.

Michael Oketcho, the project manager, said: “Diarrhoea, which is caused mainly by waterborne bacteria, accounts for 17% of the deaths of children below five years.”

Close to 10 million Ugandans suffer from diseases associated with unsafe water.