K’jong get solar-powered wells
Nov 04, 2009
THE residents of Bokora in Moroto district, and Pian and Nakapiripirit districts have hailed the Office of the Prime Minister for providing safe drinking water through solar-powered wells.
By Olandason Wanyama
THE residents of Bokora in Moroto district, and Pian and Nakapiripirit districts have hailed the Office of the Prime Minister for providing safe drinking water through solar-powered wells.
The new technology, which is the first of its kind in Karamoja, had eight wells installed in schools and resettlement areas to reduce water shortages. Anna Maria Lokomar, a resident of Lolachat village in Nakapiripirit, said on Sunday that in addition to poor access to safe and clean water, most of the water points were contaminated.
She said she had never seen the sun giving water to people, animals and crops in her life. Lokomar said they had been travelling to distant places looking for water together with their cattle.
“The project has brought water closer to our homes. I hope with the increased consumption, the community will no longer suffer from sanitation and hygiene-related diseases,†she said.
The Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) Uganda public relations officer, Booker Ajuoga, said his organisation had also rehabilitated and drilled boreholes.
“We have rehabilited non-functional boreholes alongside the solar wells at different sites and schools,†he said.
The EU, in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister, commissioned the project a year ago. ADRA-Uganda is the implementer, with supervision from the Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Project. The project cost the Government over sh800m.
The Moroto district LC5 chairman, Peter Ken Lochap, while visiting the sites on Saturday, hailed ADRA-Uganda for its effort to supplement the Government effort in improving the welfare of the Karimojong.
He encouraged other organisations to do the same. Lochap cautioned the beneficiaries against vandalising the solar wells and the boreholes.
THE residents of Bokora in Moroto district, and Pian and Nakapiripirit districts have hailed the Office of the Prime Minister for providing safe drinking water through solar-powered wells.
The new technology, which is the first of its kind in Karamoja, had eight wells installed in schools and resettlement areas to reduce water shortages. Anna Maria Lokomar, a resident of Lolachat village in Nakapiripirit, said on Sunday that in addition to poor access to safe and clean water, most of the water points were contaminated.
She said she had never seen the sun giving water to people, animals and crops in her life. Lokomar said they had been travelling to distant places looking for water together with their cattle.
“The project has brought water closer to our homes. I hope with the increased consumption, the community will no longer suffer from sanitation and hygiene-related diseases,†she said.
The Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) Uganda public relations officer, Booker Ajuoga, said his organisation had also rehabilitated and drilled boreholes.
“We have rehabilited non-functional boreholes alongside the solar wells at different sites and schools,†he said.
The EU, in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister, commissioned the project a year ago. ADRA-Uganda is the implementer, with supervision from the Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Project. The project cost the Government over sh800m.
The Moroto district LC5 chairman, Peter Ken Lochap, while visiting the sites on Saturday, hailed ADRA-Uganda for its effort to supplement the Government effort in improving the welfare of the Karimojong.
He encouraged other organisations to do the same. Lochap cautioned the beneficiaries against vandalising the solar wells and the boreholes.