By lucky P
Residents of Bwanika Parish, Kicwamba Sub-County, have a reason to celebrate after Kabarole District, in partnership with the International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commissioned the Buhara Gravity Piped Water Flow Scheme worth Shs 900 million.
The scheme, aimed at curbing waterborne diseases and improving access to safe water, is set to benefit 14 villages in Bwanika Parish.
According to Martin Wasisi, IRC’s Regional WASH Coordinator, the project involved laying a 12-kilometer pipeline from Mount Rwenzori, installing public tap stands in Buhara, constructing a 20,000-liter sedimentation tank, and setting up an 80,000-liter storage tank at Magunga. He noted that five public tap stands and ten household yard connections have already been established in Magunga B, Katumba, and Buhara A and B, drastically improving safe water access.
Kabarole District Chairperson Dr. Richard Rwabuhinga commended IRC and the Church for their support but appealed for the extension of the project to the six remaining villages. He stressed that safe water will reduce the burden of waterborne diseases, cut household expenditure on medical treatment, and save the community time previously spent walking long distances to fetch water.
Area District Councilor Hon. Edinah Tusiime Mukarwiza and Nyakahuma Innocent Polly, LC2 Chairperson of Bwanika, hailed the project as a timely intervention, saying it will ease the community’s long struggle with water scarcity.
Meanwhile, Mr. Fredrick Kamya from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged both leaders and residents to take good care of the facility, emphasizing that proper maintenance is key to ensuring the sustainability of water supply.
The scheme is part of ongoing efforts by Kabarole District and development partners to expand safe water access across rural communities and combat preventable diseases linked to unsafe water sources.