In a move to restrain the spread of water borne diseases, access to clean water amongst communities surrounding Lake Kyoga remains key, say the development partners.
Authorities in the districts of Kaberamaido and Kalaki have given a standing ovation to the development partners for securing the water coverage in the grappling communities.
Currently, the lake shore districts of Kaberamaido and Kalaki stand at the water coverage of 79% but still low by 6% to hit the 85% target required by the government.
Mr. William Emunyu the Deputy CAO for Kalaki district had attributed the ultimatum to the low funding by the government, especially on drilling and rehabilitation of secure water sources like the boreholes.
“In this financial year 2023 – 2024, we have only received 260 Million shillings for drilling boreholes which is a very small amount”, he said.
Kalaki district with its population of 175,000 people has 49 government Primary Schools and 8 secondary Schools, however only 38 of them have boreholes built by the Prince of peace Orphans and Widows Vision, a non-government organization commonly known as POPOW.
Ringe Florence the Executive director of POPOW believes that if the government emphasizes on ensuring clean water coverage for the rural communities, the population will be free from water borne diseases that still remain a major threat to communities surrounding water bodies like Lake Kyoga.
“Before our organization came to Kalaki, the water coverage was at 55% however our interventions have pulled the water coverage to the current 79%, we also protect the environment and hygiene in communities, protect the girl child and their well-being at school”, she said.
Adding, ”the organization has so far constructed a total population of 85 toilets in Schools and 67,500 children now have access to clean sanitation.”
The organization has also fixed 208 water sources whereby 160,000 people now have access to clean water.
Mr. William Emunyu the CAO Kalaki notices the tremendous changes in the water coverage following such interventions, he reveals that the water coverage at his district in the year 2019 was at 55%, he attributes the current coverage of 79% to the interventions by POPOW.
In his remarks, the Teso affairs Minister Clement Ongalo Obote, also the Kalaki County Legislator, recognizes the impact of development partners and calls for more contributions towards the well-being of the people.
Kalaki district has a total number of 227 villages, 34 parishes and 8 sub – counties.