By Metedeo Iceta
YUMBE: A solar powered pipe water system set up by the Ministry of local government with Support from European Union and investment from partners under Development Initiative for Northern Uganda has brought life and hope to the residents of Arafa Sub County in Yumbe district.
The project and intervention has represented a comprehensive strategy to uplift the lives of the people to foster economic growth and promote Sustainable Development.
Daniel Eberu, the site manager at Akvo International cited that the system comprises two phases and 180 households have been connected including three primary Schools within the Sub County.
“The construction of the pump station and installation of the pump units and also transmitting the water which is 1000 cube meters covering 4 kilometers from the pump station. The distribution network as of now we connected 180 households including three schools and health centres and also constructed 10 public standing posts which can be shared by those that didn’t benefit from household level”,Mr Eberu said.
Ms Doris Tiko, the Head teacher of Dramba Primary School in Yumbe district told daily monitor that long way back people do not clean and safe water for drinking apart from the rivers.
“We used to scoop the sand in order to harvest water for domestic use for survival. We used to travel a long distance most case 5 kilometers to get some water and there were only 15 boreholes women travelling all this distance to look for water and we used to look for water at night until morning searching for water in this Sub County”
Ms Tiko said: “As a woman you go out to look for water the moment you come back domestic violence will rise at the high peak. This has resulted in family separation because of shortage of water and up to now there are many cases of domestic violence because women sleep outside in search of water for domestic use and production purpose”, Ms Tiko said.
Ms Jennifer Bukokhe, the Deputy Director, UNCDF said the commissioning of projects and interventions under Development Initiative for Northern Uganda generously funded by the European Union through UNCDF marks a momentous occasion that underscores the importance of international cooperation and partnership in driving positive change in our region.
“Water is important because it is life as of now. We are hoping this water point will help to reduce the water borne diseases in the community. The women will now have access to clean and safe water which would be ready available for cooking, production and we see that water and also enough time for children to go to school such that it encourages women to do other domestic duties”, Bukokhe said.
“When the water is close to them the domestic violence would equally be reduced in the communities of Yumbe district. In terms of Sustainability we (UNCDF) looking at sustainability of impact that has been created and also sustainability of the project including the infrastructure itself and we work with local government of the district including the sub county authorities to ensure that they maintain the facilities that has been put in place”
She said: “We encourage the district authority to continue to sensitize the beneficiaries on how to use it properly because you can have clean water from the source and then when it gets home it becomes contaminated. They might use dirty containers that will cause another problem and we want to see that the impact that has created continues even after the life of the DINU programme”, she said.
Mr Abdulmutalib Asiku, the Yumbe District Local Council Five Chairman said in Arafa Sub County, Yumbe district has been witnessing the challenge of clean and safe water for consumption and today its extremely exciting to the people.
“Our role as local government leaders just as said only 180 households have been connected. This leaves me with challenge as being the Chairman of the district together with the accounting officer and district water officer because every financial year we keep receiving money under sector conditional grant in the water sector and I want to commit that every financial year we allocate for the extension of this pipe water system within Arafa sub county”, Mr Asiku said
“The European Union and UNCDF that this project is now in place our biggest challenge still remains roads connectivity. We expect second phase of DINU programmee be established to continue with development agenda in the region and we are aware that through this initiative are not only connecting our communities but have also opened up a new economic opportunities, making northern Uganda an attractive destination for investments”
Ms Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, the Minister of state for Northern Uganda said today is a different story as people are happy while singing during the ceremony.
“The good thing is that we are still alive and the leaders of the district are saying let us do more and the government is going to put more money such that it reaches other families. We can do all of us should put more effort in seeing it that everything is possible achieved and we need to go on the drawing board to see what else can be done to address the situation on ground because commissioning of this project is not the end of the life”
“We need to promote better life in our community and want to thank the head of state who has shown far and agreed that the European Union can support us in this way. The good support from them cannot be underestimated by the people of this region and we continue to support the agenda of development at our household levels for a transformative change”, she said.