Biguli subcounty gets piped water system

KAMWENGE – Residents of Biguli subcounty in Kamwenge district are set to enjoy reliable and affordable supply of safe water and improved sanitation in their homes.

This comes after the completion of the Biguli-Kirinda Town Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme, which was constructed by the district local government in partnership with Water For People, an international NGO.

The Biguli-Kirinda system was constructed at a cost of sh715m.

Of this, community members contributed sh10m, the district local government sh15m and the rest was funded by Water For People.

The piped system covers a distance of 7KM and it will serve an estimated 7,000 people. The price of water will also reduce from sh300 to sh100 per jerrycan.

The system is part of Kamwenge district’s Every One Forever programme – which is an effort to provide safe and sustainable water and sanitation services to every family, every school and every clinic in the district.

Among the 15 subcounties in Kamwenge district, Biguli has the lowest safe water coverage currently at 53.4 %, having only risen from 23% in 2012, according to Water for People FLOW data, 2014/2015.

With a population of 33,229, nearly half of the people still do not have access to a safe water source.  But since the construction of the system was completed, over 60 households have applied for a private connection – an indication that people want water very close to their homes.

Speaking at the official commissioning of the system, the minister of water and environment, Ephraim Kamuntu said the Biguli-Kirinda system is contributing directly towards government’s efforts to ensure that each village has at least one source of safe water and that women do not have to carry water on their heads.

The minister however noted that while there have been major gains over the past years, the country is yet to reach its targets for water and sanitation coverage.
 

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The Biguli Sub County chief receives a recognition award from the Minister of Water and Environment Professor Ephraim Kamuntu for his contribution towards the success of the water project.

The water supply and sanitation system contractor and Water for People officials prepare to hand over the water system tools to the Minister of Water and Environment Professor Ephraim Kamuntu.
 

Looking ahead

“Over the last ten years, major gains have been made in providing water and sanitation services for people in Uganda, especially the rural areas.

“Since 2005, access to improved water sources has increased from 61% to 64% in rural areas; and from 51% to 72.8% in urban areas – as of June 2014.

“In terms of sanitation, latrine coverage in rural areas improved from 69% in 2011/12 to 74.6% in 2013/14. While in urban areas sanitation coverage increased from 81% in 2011/12 to 82% in 2013/14,” said Kamuntu.

He said further: “These are noteworthy achievements, but they still fall below the government targets expressed in the National Development Plan of 2015/16 - 2019/20.

“The Government of Uganda targets to increase water supply coverage in rural areas from the current 64% to 79%; to increase urban water supply to 95%; and increase sewerage coverage to 30% in towns with a population greater than 15,000.”


‘Play your role’
 

Tree planting to mark the launch of the the Biguli water and sanitation system

The country director of Water For People, Cate Nimanya, pledged the organisation’s continued support to Kamwenge district local government to ensure that every member of the community has access to safe water.

“We already have piped systems under construction and these will be completed in the next four months in the villages of Rwebishahi, Buhumuriro, Businge and Malere Primary School.

“We shall embark on five other villages thereafter” she said.

Some of the key challenges preventing Uganda from attaining its water, sanitation and hygiene targets include:
 

• poverty and rapid population growth

• poor sanitation practices due to negative customary beliefs and ignorance

• unfavorable soil structures

• weak enforcement of existing laws and regulations

• climate change causing frequent floods and drought.
  
   

Meanwhile, in the urban areas, challenges include:
 

• pollution and depletion of water resources

• unplanned settlement patterns

• temporal and spatial variability of water resources leading to high investment costs

• high energy costs and limited grid power network leading to use of high cost alternatives

• low prioritization of sanitation and hygiene at all levels
  
   

Pictured these combined photos is the water tank will be used to supply water to Biguli sub-county

Also, poor operation and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities was particularly pointed out as a key challenge.

“While there are efforts to increase coverage, it all comes to naught if there are no matched efforts to maintain those facilities in good working condition.

"I appeal to each one of you to play your respective roles in order to maintain the functionality of this system,” said Minister Kamuntu.



About Water For People

Water For People is an International NGO with headquarters in Denver, Colorado – USA.

The NGO has been working in Uganda since 2008, collaborating with local partners to support water and sanitation business initiatives

Water for People works to reach every family, every school and every clinic with reliable access to water.

This means reaching every single person – the most vulnerable, hardest to reach and marginalized – Everyone with safe drinking water and sanitation services that last not just today but for years, for generations, forever