AAIU COMMISSIONS BOREHOLE WATER PROJECT IN NWOYA DISTRICT, NORTHERN UGANDA.
On Wednesday 7th October 2020, ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU) commissioned and handed over the borehole water project through the District chairperson, Hon Okello Patrick Oryema to the community of Nwoya district in Northern Uganda.
Since the end of the 20 year conflict in Northern Uganda, the people of Nwoya District suffered limited access to clean and safe water as the government has been unable to deliver basic public services like clean and safe water to them. This has affected the livelihoods of over1,500 community members but most especially, the women and children who were conditioned to walk long distances in order to access clean water.
With support from ActionAid Ireland and Electric Aid, ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU) was able to implement this project in Onyomtil Village, Anaka Sub County, Nwoya District.
The water project will serve (60) home steads in Onyomtil village with an average of 10 people per homestead, and other people from the neighboring villages estimating the number of total beneficiaries to1,500 community members.
The main goal of the project was to increase access to clean and safe water for the community members and is now serving over sixty (60) home steads in Onyomtil village with an average of 10 people per homestead, and other people from the neighboring villages estimating the number of total beneficiaries to1,500 community members and this includes the 47 AAIU sponsored children.
The bore hole can pump about 150 Jerrycans of 20liters per hour which is an indicator that it provides enough water to the community and the women and children do not take long hours at the water source.
Hon Okello Patrick Oryema District chairperson during the ceremony, thanked the community for donating some land for the borehole project and encouraged them to manage the borehole.
He also urged the community to be security conscious, embrace the borehole as their own and take full responsibility to manage and maintain it since they have water committee had enough training on managing the borehole.
With the support of the District Water Officer a Water user committee was selected among the community members and trained on their roles and responsibilities in managing and maintaining the newly commissioned water source. The committee has ensured that the water source is clean, and the community members wash their hands before touching the water source in order to observe the set COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures, use clean jerrycans and educate them on improving overall hygiene in their homes.
Ms Akello Margret Lapok, a member of the community said, “We thank AAIU and Nwoya district local government for the clean water we no longer have to move long distances to fetch water, we were trained on maintenance and management of the water point that will make them maintain their borehole.”
