Kapelebyong | Partners for Children Worldwide, with funding from ChildFund and Davis & Shirtliff, has successfully relieved the Acowa community of waterborne diseases by investing in a new water plant.
Acowa town council in Kapelebyong district has long faced water scarcity, relying on a single borehole to serve over 5,000 residents and frequently sharing resources with animals at ground wells.
Raphael Omus, LC1 chairperson of the Aloet cell in Akore town council, thanked the partners for their financial assistance in providing water access to over 5,000 people.
He urged for increased connections and improvements to the water plant to meet rising demand, thereby improving hygiene standards.
Omus asked the ChildFund to consider increasing the water tank capacity beyond 10,000 litres.
He also emphasised the town council’s responsibility for the safety and maintenance of the solar panel system and water plant.
Ann Ruth Alupo, a beneficiary, highlighted the difficulties of travelling long distances and waiting in long lines for water, which frequently resulted in gender-based violence.
She noticed improvements in family hygiene now that water is readily available, which saves time and allows for timely food preparation.
John Nicholas Ebiu, headteacher at Akore-Acowa Primary School and a beneficiary, emphasised the benefits to children’s health and school attendance as a result of reduced waterborne diseases.
A section of the pupils narrated that the availability of water has improved hygiene and enabled them to stay long from school.
The learner’s also disclosed that they had been threatened and insulted by women and other water users in the boreholes they also run to after water.
George Masuba, the manager of Partners Worldwide, outlined their goal of improving water access in accordance with SDGs 3, 6, and 13. He emphasised the project’s 120 million shilling cost for combating gender-based violence.
George urged the district’s political and technical staff to increase water funding for the town council.
Martin Obwalinga, a community development officer for Acowa sub-county, emphasised how the project supplements government efforts to connect piped water to town councils despite financial constraints.
During the water plant’s commissioning, Vincent Ewalu, secretary Finance Planning and Administration for the LCV, explained the district’s struggle to meet water demand with limited resources, with only four boreholes distributed annually across seven sub-counties and four town councils.
Solomon Kamusire, Manager of Davis & Shirtliff Organization’s Mbale branch, emphasised the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and community development through such partnerships.
Moses Otai, Country Director of ChildFund International, attributed the project’s success to collaboration among political leaders and community members, emphasising its benefits for children’s safety and well-being.
Chege Ngugi, East Africa Regional Director of ChildFund International, emphasised the project’s significance as Uganda’s first, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.
Ngugi emphasised Child Fund’s commitment to investing in children’s futures through education, security, and health initiatives, as well as collaborating with governments to supplement existing policies.
By Robert Edwomu.
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