Government commissions multi-billion water project in Zombo

Zombo: The Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Water and Sanitation Development Facility-North, has officially launched a major piped water supply project in Zombo Town Council, Zombo district.

The multi-billion initiative, funded by the Ugandan government and the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW, was commissioned on Thursday, December 19, 2024.

The project, which started in April 2023, was completed after 16 months of construction at a cost of UGX 5.2 billion.

It aims to provide clean and safe water to the residents of Zombo, who previously depended on unprotected water sources. The new water supply will serve over 20,000 people across Zombo Town Council, parts of Athuma, and Nyapea Sub-counties.

The construction, executed by Kings Albert Construction, has already resulted in 660 new water connections in the community. In addition to the water infrastructure, the project included the construction of a public toilet at Zombo Central Market and a 10-stance pit latrine at Zombo Lower Primary School, addressing gaps in health and sanitation.

During the commissioning ceremony, State Minister of Water and Environment Aisha Sekindi commended the community for their support in providing land for the project. She also emphasized the importance of safeguarding the infrastructure from vandalism, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring that clean water reaches every household by 2030.

Sekindi further underscored the role of water user committees in promoting awareness about the benefits of clean water for health and economic development. To enhance mobility and monitoring of the new facility, the government also handed over a brand new Yamaha motorcycle to the department.

Zombo District, with a population of over 300,000, has benefited from continuous water infrastructure development. In the last four years, over UGX 3 billion has been allocated to support water point establishment and maintenance in the region.

Local leaders, including the LCIII Chairperson of Zombo Town Council, Naftali Ocamagiu, praised the government’s efforts but called for more water connections in remote villages and military barracks, such as the 55 UPDF battalion at Ajere Hill.

The newly installed water supply system includes critical infrastructure such as a pump house, water system, security fencing, toilet facilities, and solar panels. It provides a much-needed solution for a community long plagued by unreliable and contaminated water sources, posing serious health risks.

Festus Ayikobua, the Resident District Commissioner for Zombo, also warned against vandalism of public infrastructure, stressing the importance of community ownership in protecting the water facility.

He appealed for the extension of water supply to areas facing severe scarcity, such as the border sub-counties of Aka, Zeu, and Alangi.

Currently, water access rates in Zombo vary, with some sub-counties like Athuma at 56% access and others like Jangokoro reaching 95%. However, there are concerns about the sustainability of the water points, as 308 of them have been non-functional for over five years.

The district’s water coverage stands at 87%, with 79% of the water points functional. Richard Matua, the Commissioner of the Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Services Department, assured that the government would extend water connections to areas such as the 55 battalion barracks in Zombo once funding becomes available.

The commissioning of this water supply project is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to address water scarcity and improve public health and sanitation in the region. The people of Zombo are hopeful that this initiative will pave the way for further infrastructure developments, ensuring sustainable water solutions for all.

In her remarks, Aisha Sekindi also called for community participation in maintaining the facility, particularly through timely payment of water bills to ensure its sustainability. Local leaders and residents remain optimistic about the future, hoping that the government will continue to address water access in underserved areas across the district.

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