Over 3,000 Paidha residents gain access to safe water after spring rehabilitation
“I now call upon everyone in our community to actively participate in communal cleaning so that our new water source is regularly and properly maintained,” he said.
Zombo: More than 3,000 residents of Paidha Town Council in Zombo District have gained access to safe drinking water following the rehabilitation of the Anjat protected spring in Akir Cell, Zingii Ward.
The intervention, led by Zombo District Woman Member of Parliament Topista Acamfua following appeals from residents, is expected to improve public health in an area where communities have for years depended on unreliable and contaminated water sources.
The rehabilitated spring serves more than 800 households on the outskirts of the densely populated commercial centre of Paidha and supplements other water sources, including Afiya, Toda, Apirindit and Kulu Pamitu.
Local leaders said the Anjat spring had not been rehabilitated for more than 50 years and had become heavily silted and buried under sand, making it non-functional and unsafe for human consumption.
Residents welcomed the intervention, saying access to safe water will ease the burden of water collection and reduce exposure to waterborne diseases.
Harriet Wiyajik, a resident of Akir Cell, said families had previously been forced to rely on distant and contaminated water sources, placing women and children at particular risk.
“For years, we have relied on distant water sources. We highly commend our Woman MP for this timely initiative,” Wiyajik said.
She added that the rehabilitated spring would save mothers the burden of travelling long distances in search of safe drinking water.
Another resident, Oliver Kayenyparwoth, described the development as the fulfilment of a long-standing community need.
“We are overjoyed that our dream has finally come true, and we are deeply grateful to her for this support,” Kayenyparwoth said.
According to a representative of the Woman MP, additional protected springs are being constructed in neighbouring Zingili and Alengukuma cells to serve thousands more residents.
The improved water access is expected to contribute to better hygiene and sanitation, reduce diarrhoeal diseases and improve maternal and child health, while also reducing the time households spend collecting water.
Cwinya-ai Wilfred, the LCI Chairperson for Akir Cell, urged residents to take responsibility for protecting the facility from contamination.
“I now call upon everyone in our community to actively participate in communal cleaning so that our new water source is regularly and properly maintained,” he said.
Official data for Zombo District puts overall water coverage at 82 percent, with rural coverage standing at 89 percent and urban coverage at 77 percent. The functionality rate of existing water facilities is reported at 79 percent.
Nationally, Ministry of Water and Environment figures from 2023 show that Uganda had constructed 150,837 water supply facilities, including 42,007 deep boreholes, 21,722 shallow wells, 29,261 protected springs, 37,480 public stand posts or taps and 20,367 rainwater harvesting tanks.
The country currently has 146,333 domestic water points serving 31,011,286 people, including 24,505,180 people in rural areas.
However, 5,312 water sources have remained non-functional for more than five years and are classified as abandoned. Uganda also has 1,211 piped water schemes.
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