West Nile Community receive clean water after 20 years of waiting

After years of empty promises by The Government and politicians about the extension of clean water sources, a sigh of relief is gradually returning amongst the impoverished and rural community of Athuma Sub-County in Zombo District, following the “Commitment ” by National Water and Sewerage Corporation to extend clean water source to the area.

Members of the community from the area say for years, they were disconnected and no one took a keen interest in their plight.

Apart from the clean water source, there is no better road to reach out to the area and this was another concern they were so bitter over for years.

They say politicians would always reach their rural areas during the electoral process and vanish in thin air leaving them at the mercy of God.

The community have predominantly been relying on  River Leda for domestic use and many were exposed to diseases.

National Water and sewerage cooperation has committed to extending piped clean water sources to the rural community of Leda Parish in Athuma Sub-County.

During a sensitisation meeting that attracted community members, officials from Nation Water, and local and District Leaders at Leda parish, The Manager of National Water and sewerage corporation Nebbi Branch Goefrey Mwesigye, assured locals that the extension will not take long and it will be free of charge.

In 2020, 74% of the global population (5.8 billion people) used a safely managed drinking-water service – that is, one located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination.

Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost economic growth and can contribute greatly to poverty reduction.

Zombo District has 8 piped water schemes.

The  District chairperson James Oruna Oyullu has called upon National Water to consider some schools in the area.

Microbiologically contaminated drinking water can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio and is estimated to cause 485 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year according to the world health organization.

The District councillor of Athuma sub-county Francis Bolingo has called for a speedy extension of clean water to the area.

He also called upon the District to work on the sorry state of roads that is connecting the rural community.

” For the first time in history, the community is going to benefit from clean and safe water, I ask the Manager of National Water and Sewerage cooperation, The LC 5 chairperson, and The RDC to put pressure to ensure those people get water” Bolingo Said.

During the meeting, The LC1 Chairperson of Ucungulir Village, Leda Parish Athuma Sub_County  said he will believe upon witnessing the process.

” We suffered from Typhoid, Dysentery amongst others because of unclean water from Leda Stream, we are so happy that today you leaders have come to our hidden area here, but still, we shall believe after seeing the work, for years promises had been made to us but nothing yielded,” He Said.

According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, Zombo district has  1,402 domestic water points which serve a  population of  247,571 People Out of which over 200,000 are rural based and a total of 319 water points have been non -functional for over five years.