Story by Osuta Yusuf
Officials from Ministry of Water and Environment, Germany Government, politicians and the Wananchi have commissioned two mega sanitary and water supply facilities in Madi Okollo District on Tuesday 23-4-2024 at the tune of Shs 2,399,204,036 and in Koboko District on Wednesday 24-4-2024 at the tune of Shs 6,610,133,827 as the State Minister for Water and Environment Hon Iasha Sekindi was the Guest of Honor.
The multi-billion projects in these two districts whose construction projects started in 2022 and they cost a total of 9 Billion Shillings was funded by The Federal Government of Germany through Uganda Government.
Commissioning of the two days projects included planting of Trees towards the efforts for restoration of Environment in order to avert climate change.
Eng Lule Yusuf, the Deputy Engineer in the Ministry of Water and Environment said these projects with a durability period of more than 20 years, are meant to support refugee hosting districts.
A VHT in Okollo Sub-county, Madi Okollo District, Aimaru Flavia thanked the government of Uganda and Germany Government for constructing for them the water facilities because they used to walk long distances to fetch water in the valleys.
Afusa Ojaku from Keri Sub-county, Koboko District bordering DRC Congo appreciated the donors and Ministry of Water and Environment for the project but she appealed for a minimal user tariff to be charged for the water or else they will continue fetching water from Congo side
The head of cooperation at Germany Embassy Uganda, Alicia Van Den Boom stated that, access to clean water steers infrastructural developments.
Following an incident of vandalism, where some people cut the water pipes to directly get water for laying bricks, the State Minister for Water and Environment, Hon Aisha Sekindi directed the district officials to arrest such people who cause damages to the facilities.
She advised men to take responsibilities in their families so that they appropriately use the advantage of the water.
The projects designed to last for at least 20 years and are expected to serve a total of 54 villages in the two districts (Madi Okollo District and Koboko District) have been handed over to Northern Umbrella Uganda for proper management and maintenance.