Until August, residents of Atapar Village, Kapir Sub-county in Ngora District endured water scarcity after most boreholes broke down, while waterborne diseases were on the horizon.
However, that has since changed after a Euro 314, 563 solar-powered water supply system was set up in the area. The system, which is co-funded by the Ugandan government and UK Export Finance, is being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE) through Nexus Green Limited.
Running on 36 solar panels, each with 475 watt peaks, with an 80-cubic metre capacity reservoir, and five kilometre pipeline to 11 public standpoints, the system is in position to accommodate up to 4,500 end-users, according to Mr Yusuf Mutebi, a project engineer with Nexus Green Limited for the Eastern region.
Mr Richard Opolot, the in-charge Kapir Health Centre III, says cases of waterborne diseases, including typhoid and diarrhoea have significantly reduced.
‘We now record between four and five cases of typhoid in a month, down from between 20 and 25. We also used to record about 100 cases of diarrhoea each month, but now record half that number,’ Mr Opolot said last week.
He added: ‘Last month (October), we recorded 50 cases of diarrhoea, and if the project expands to other parishes, the cases there too, will go down. The only cases we have are from other places without clean water.’
Other benefits
Mr Opolot says expectant mothers are now delivering in a clean environment, and are being subjected to cleaning themselves prior to going into labour, while the treatment regimen has also improved.
‘Patients were required to take medicine from the facility, but there was no water; but now, before they leave, they should have taken the first dose. Also, some of my staff used to report late for work because they had to first fetch water, but late coming and absenteeism has reduced.’
Ms Godwill Atim, the acting Kapir Sub-county Chief, says the area only had one borehole, while the majority of the residents relied on nearby swamps. However, following the project, water distribution points have been set up at Kapir Primary School, Kapir Sub-county headquatres, Kapir Health Centre III and Atapar Primary School.
‘The facility has also led to low cases of Gender-based Violence, as women no longer have to trek long distances for water and are accused by their husbands of having extramarital affairs,’ Ms Atim said.
Adding: ‘The Girl Child is at school and is not sent home early to fetch water, there is a change in livelihoods of communities leading to development, and there is a reduction in waterborne diseases.’
Mr Charles Ebiau, the Kapir Sub-county LC3 chairperson, said it was the first project in the area, which he described as ‘a mega one’.
According to him, locals faced challenges accessing clean water, especially at Atapar Primary School and immediate communities. ‘The government drilled about six boreholes, but they often dried up. Over 1,000 community members are benefiting from the project.’
Mr Gerald Aikomo, the headmaster of Kapir Primary School, said their lone borehole served 508 pupils, ten teachers, and animals, especially during the dry season.
‘Ever since the project came, learners and teachers get water on time, and hygiene has improved because we have enough water to facilitate that,’ explained Mr Aikomo.