Africa-Press – Uganda. Pearl Bank, World Vision Uganda, and Vision Fund International announced a landmark partnership to rehabilitate water infrastructure across Kamwenge District.
The initiative leverages the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) loan facility to the Kamwenge District Water Management Association (KADWAMA) to repair non-functional boreholes and water sources while strengthening community management systems for long-term sustainability.
Despite Uganda’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, significant water access challenges persist in rural communities. According to the Uganda Water Supply Atlas, overall water access in Kamwenge District is 77 percent.
However, communities still face critical barriers including technical infrastructure failures, low water yield, and maintenance gaps that undermine sustainability.
This partnership will directly benefit communities by restoring functionality to critical water infrastructure, reducing the distance and time spent accessing clean water, and improving health and livelihoods. The initiative combines infrastructure rehabilitation with capacity building for local water management committees, ensuring that communities can sustainably maintain their own water systems.
Carolyn Andama, Head of Public Sector at Pearl Bank, emphasized the bank’s commitment to financing solutions with lasting social impact:
“A functioning water source is a lifeline for any community. Pearl Bank’s purpose is to foster prosperity for Ugandans, including ensuring access to clean water and infrastructure that enables education, health, and economic opportunity. This partnership contributes to Uganda’s National Development Plan IV priorities on water security and rural development. Through this initiative, we are investing in the conditions that enable families and communities to build better lives and contribute to Uganda’s economic growth.”
James Kaahwa, Program Operations Director of World Vision Uganda, said:
“Access to safe water is fundamental to the well-being of children and the resilience of families and communities. Through this partnership, we are restoring critical water sources in Kamwenge while strengthening locally led systems that enable communities to sustainably manage and maintain their own water services.”
Eng. Lamu Olweny, Commissioner for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, applauded the initiative:
“We commend Pearl Bank, World Vision Uganda, and Vision Fund International for supporting community impact initiatives like rehabilitating water sources. Access to safe water ultimately leads to good health and economic development for the communities where these facilities are stationed.”
Kamwenge District will serve as the pilot district, with plans to scale this model to more districts across Uganda.
