Africa-Press – Uganda. Bugiri District has witnessed a transformative shift in water access as over 15,000 residents and 5,000 school children gain reliable and safe water, ending long treks to distant sources and reducing waterborne diseases.
The milestone follows the commissioning of two hybrid motorized piped water systems—Nankoma and Nabukalu—with a combined investment exceeding Shs2.37 billion.
The projects were led by World Vision Uganda in partnership with the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC).
The Nankoma Piped Water System serves 10,250 community members, 3,602 students across five primary schools, and one healthcare facility.
It delivers 100,000 liters of water daily through 13.4 kilometers of distribution network, 14 community water points, five school water points, one healthcare water point, and 121 private connections.
The Nabukalu system, co-funded by World Vision and NWSC at Shs1.27 billion, provides Shs180,000 liters of clean water daily to 3,900 community members, 1,042 learners at one primary school, and a healthcare facility.
Its infrastructure includes 9.4 kilometers of distribution pipeline, 13 community water points, one school water point, one healthcare facility point, and one private connection.
Before these interventions, communities relied on contaminated swamps and non-functional water sources, negatively impacting education and public health.
Patrick Bwire, headteacher of Nkaizi Primary School, noted, “Children frequently skipped school to fetch water from distant sources, leading to dropouts and early marriages. The only available water came from a swamp, which caused frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.”
For pupils like Jalia Namawongo, the project has brought hope.
“We will now have time to study in class, read our books, and pass our exams. We will no longer get sick from dirty water or walk long distances to find it,” she said.
James Kaahwa, programmes director for World Vision Uganda, highlighted the broader impact.
“Access to clean water is the engine of development. It leads to healthier families, higher school attendance, and community transformation.”
Safe water coverage in Bugiri has now risen to 60%, with NWSC and the Eastern Uganda Umbrella of Water and Sanitation ensuring long-term operation and expansion.
Mable Abaho, area manager for NWSC, said: “It is our mandate to address operational challenges and expand systems to ensure continuous service delivery.”
The benefits are already visible: improved school enrollment and attendance, reduced disease outbreaks, better livelihoods, and safer environments for healthcare workers and patients.
World Vision Uganda, active in humanitarian and development work since 1986, continues to transform lives across the country.
With clean water now flowing in Bugiri, the district moves toward improved health, education, and sustainable development—one drop at a time.
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