The government on Thursday launched a Shs47 billion water supply and sanitation project designed to expand access to safe, reliable water in Ndorwa East constituency in Kabale District and parts of neighbouring Rubanda District.
The Bugarama-Karweru Piped Water Supply and Sanitation System, implemented under the Climate Smart Water and Sanitation Investment Project (CWIP), is expected to benefit more than 43,000 people across 117 villages in nine parishes.
The government said the total cost includes works for the Rwere-Kateretere area in Rubanda District.
Officials said the project will use a combination of pumping and gravity-flow technologies, drawing water from the Kahama, Kashija and Kacuro springs as well as Lake Bunyonyi.
The design is intended to withstand dry seasons and ensure stable supply as climate pressures intensify.
Residents said the project marks the end of years of severe water shortages. Tukamushaba Macklean, a resident of Karweru in Maziba Sub-county, said families had depended heavily on rainwater harvesting.
She said the scarcity forced people to walk long distances – sometimes up to two kilometres – to find water. She is optimistic the new system will ease the pressure on households. ‘
Now that water will be available, the cost of living will also improve,’ she said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment, represented by Eng Felix Twinomucunguzi, said the project would significantly improve sanitation at household and community levels because gravity-fed supply would bring water closer to homes.
‘Government plan focuses on safe-water distribution across the country, and iam sure that all, homes will draw water closer,’ Twinomucunguzi noted.
Kabale Woman MP Catherine Ndamira welcomed both the water and electricity aspects of the project, urging communities to maintain good hygiene and protect the environment as infrastructure expands.
Ndorwa East MP Wilfred Niwagaba, who officiated as chief guest, said the system would end decades of water stress in the villages targeted by the project.
He asked residents to support the contractor and safeguard the infrastructure as work progresses.
‘This was a long-term Request from my people, and with my lobbying skills, the project has been launched. We thank the Ministry of Water and Environment for the answered call and most importantly, your patience,’ Niwagaba said.
The Ministry of Water and Environment said the project will roll out in phases to ensure reliable supply, with implementation expected to accelerate once distribution lines are completed.