Africa-Press – Uganda. Rotary Completes $80,600 ( about Shs 306,280,000) Water and Skills Project in Busunju, Bringing Piped Water for the First Time.
Busunju, Mityana District – The Rotary Club of Kampala North has commissioned a USD 80,600 water and carpentry project in Busunju under its Sam Owori Rotary Vijana Poa Village (SORVP) initiative, marking the first successful global grant for the area.
Implemented through Global Grant GG1987026, the project aimed at supplying clean water to the developing SORVP site and equipping a locally built carpentry workshop.
It also included water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) training for residents.
According to project team leader Rtn. Priscilla Nakiboneka, the grant financed hydrogeological studies, drilling, and construction of a solar-powered water supply system.
The system, with a pumping capacity of 4,000 litres per hour, feeds two plastic tanks with a combined capacity of 20,000 litres, serving the village and nearby communities via two public standpipes.
The project faced early setbacks when local landlords refused to donate land for borehole drilling. However, it was salvaged after Prof. Silverster Kugonza, a nearby landowner, offered his land free of charge and allowed pipework to pass through his property.
The water system, completed in November 2024 by Galiwater Ltd, was designed pro bono by Rotaractor Hilary Galiwango of the Rotaract Club of Kyengera, enabling significant cost savings.
Now under the management of the Umbrella for Water and Sanitation in the Central Region a Ministry of Water and Environment partner the system is being maintained with support from community user fees.
Residents have been sensitised and mobilised to ensure sustainability.
The carpentry workshop remains non-functional pending the construction of dormitories for trainees.
While USD 13,000 from the grant has gone into initial equipment, a second global grant is underway to fully furnish the facility.
Despite the successful handover, the project has not been without challenges.
A solar-powered lighting system was recently vandalised, with batteries and recording equipment stolen. It is hoped that ongoing site supervision will improve security.
“This initiative has delivered piped water to the town for the first time, saving lives and time while reducing the risks of fetching water across busy roads,” said Nakiboneka.
Monitoring continues to assess the impact and ensure that more residents benefit from the newly available water services.
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