Ministry commissions Odramacaku RGC piped water and sanitation facilities in Ayivu

By Geofrey Achora Jr

ARUA: Ministry of Water and Environment through Water and Sanitation Development Facility – North
(WSDF-North) has commissioned Odramacaku RGC piped water supply and sanitation facilities in
Odramacaku, Ayivu Division, Arua City, and handed over the system to Northern Umbrella of Water and
Sanitation for Operation and Maintenance.

The commissioning ceremony was officiated by the Minister of State for Water, Hon. Aisha Sekindi who
applauded the government’s efforts to ensure the water reaches the community. She committed to
enhancing the budget for the water on the floor of parliament.

The Ministry of Water and Environment through the Water and Sanitation Facility –North program
constructed the Odramacaku Rural Growth Centre piped water supply and sanitation facilities.

In attendance also were the technical officials from the Ministry led by the Permanent Secretary Mr.
Alfred Okot Okidi, officials from Arua District LG, Arua City Council, and Ayivu Division.

Marlon Avutia the mayor of Ayivu Division said the intervention by the ministry is timely as the division is
vast with exploding population in need of clean and safe water. He said the system has connected locals
in the five wards of Kubo, Anzu, Anyara, Mbaraka, and Mite in the Ayivu Division.

He expressed the local government’s commitment to the sustainability of the project through
empowerment and capacity building of the water user committees in the community.

Avutia also decries the low water coverage in the region saying the residents have been affected by the
the burden of high cost in accessing clean safe water.

“I want to thank the ministry and the government for this great achievement today on the plight of our
people, water is life however for it to serve our people evenly it should be affordable to the intended
common person” he said.

The project estimated at 6.3 billion is expected to serve an estimated 27,658 people with GAT Consult
limited contract to undertake the project by the ultimate year 2040.

This project was funded by the Government of Uganda with support from the German Government
through KfW and with Consulting Engineers Salzgitter (CES) as the International Management
Consultant.

However, a section of the community beneficiaries appreciated the intervention, and according to Mercy
Lekuru of Anyara ward this will save her time and the exorbitant cost of Shs 300 for a jerrican with this
water at our disposal life is eased.

The system components include 290-yard taps, 10 public stand posts, institutional connections, a
block of 5 stance VIP for boys and girls as well as for staff, a tank reservoir installation of pumping main

lines and distribution network and water office building for operator use during operation and
maintenance of the system among others.