Litengi villagers end 15-year struggle with unsafe water sources

Residents of Litengi village in Madi Opei sub-county, Lamwo district, are breathing a collective sigh of relief after the installation of a new tap water system by Positive Hope Uganda in partnership with Korea Hope Foundation.

The water installation ends nearly 15 years of dependence on distant and unsafe water sources.

For more than a decade, families in Litengi struggled to access safe water. Women, children, and other vulnerable residents trekked long distances to fetch water from streams and open sources often shared with livestock.

However, the daily search for water consumed hours that could have been spent on farming, schooling, or income-generating activities, while also exposing the community to waterborne diseases and poor sanitation.

Akullu Grace Regina, Director Positive Hope Uganda said the organisation intervened after leaders from Madi Opei sub-county approached them two years ago over Litengi’s worsening water crisis.

“Two years ago, local leaders alerted us to the severe water scarcity here. When we visited, we found women, children, elderly people, and persons with disabilities struggling daily to access clean water,” Akullu said.

“Some were even sharing water sources with animals, which were putting lives at risk,” she added.

She credited the partnership with Korea Hope Foundation for making the project possible and emphasized that access to clean water is critical to improving public health and restoring dignity in rural communities.

“This project is not only about water, but also about health, sanitation, and improving the quality of life for the people here and we are grateful to Korea Hope Foundation for supporting this initiative,” she added.

Nyero Felix Lawii, the LCIII chairperson of Madi Opei sub-county, said the lack of reliable water sources had been one of the area’s biggest challenges for nearly 15 years.

He noted that women and children often left home before dawn or returned late at night in search of water, affecting school attendance and increasing their vulnerability.

“The coming of this tap water will greatly reduce suffering in the community and residents should protect the infrastructure.” Nyero said.

Nyero added: “We ask the community to take full responsibility for protecting this water source because it belongs to them and proper maintenance will help ensure that future generations also benefit.”

The facility’s sustainability will be overseen by a Water User Committee chaired by Monday Okello and according to Okello, the committee will mobilize residents to maintain cleanliness around the tap, prevent vandalism, and ensure proper use of the facility.

The committee will also coordinate routine monitoring, handle minor repairs, promote hygiene and sanitation practices, and encourage households to contribute toward maintenance when necessary.

“We want this project to serve the community for many years and that is why we shall continue sensitizing residents on ownership and responsibility,” Okello said.

Akongo Leonora, a resident living with a disability, said the new water source has eased the physical burden she previously endured.

“Before this project, getting water was very difficult for me because I cannot move long distances easily and sometimes I had to depend on other people for help. This clean water source has brought relief to many of us living with disabilities,” she said.

Other residents recalled the hardships they faced before the installation of the tap water system.

Aya Pamela said women and children often walked up to four kilometers daily to fetch water, leaving little time for farming and household chores and during dry seasons, queues at the few available water points grew longer, sometimes triggering tensions within the community.

Residents now hope the new water supply will reduce cases of waterborne diseases, improve hygiene and sanitation, save time, and minimize conflict over scarce water sources.

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The Litengi project complements broader efforts by development partners and local authorities to expand access to safe water across Lamwo district, where many villages still face acute shortages despite government interventions.

Stakeholders say lasting impact will depend not only on infrastructure development, but also on community education, effective local management systems, and sustainable funding for maintenance.

For the people of Litengi, however, the new tap water system represents more than just infrastructure and it symbolises restored dignity, improved health prospects, more time for education and work, and renewed hope for a better future.

The newly installed tap water system is expected to serve hundreds of households and significantly improve daily life in the community.