Over 300 locals to benefit from piped water supply in Maracha

By Andrew Cohen Amvesi            

MARACHA. Over 300 people are set to benefit from piped water supply for the first time in the history of Nyori village in Robu parish, Oleba sub-county in Maracha district.

The motorization of the borehole water worth shs57m is the second phase of the women-led community borehole project donated to the locals by a Diocese in Germany.

Last year, Aliamu women’s group in Nyori village applied for the borehole project so as to reduce the water burden in the village.

As a result, Aliamu women with support from Weltkirche Bistum Mainz, a Diocese in Germany secured a funding of 7,000 Euros (about Shs29.4m) after being linked by one of their own Missionary Son, Rev. Fr. Dr. John Mary Inziku to construct the one-hand pump borehole.

Now the donors have extended more funds (about shs57m) for the second phase of the project aimed at extending piped water to homes through the motorized borehole water system.

The development has caused a lot of excitement among locals who said they are now going to save a lot of time to do other income generating activities.

“I feel very happy because for the first time, I’m going to get piped water at my home. This will help me save the time I used to spend at the borehole waiting for water since the water tap will be right at my door way. I thank our donors so much for helping us,” said Lillian Avako, a resident of Nyori village.

Kevin Aitasi, another resident, said on average, it takes her 30 minutes to one hour to fetch water, but with the coming of the piped water, all that time will be saved.

“I intend to use the time I used to waste at the borehole to cultivate in my garden so that I can realize a good harvest at the end of the season. And once the water comes to my home, I will protect it very well from children so that cases of recklessness which may result in spoiling the tap are avoided,” Aitasi promised.

Meanwhile Hellen Lekuru, the chairperson of Aliamu women’s group, thanked the donors for the support.

She explained that the borehole helped in reducing the common problem of water borne diseases which people used to suffer from in the village.

Lekuru, however, noted that due to the increased demand for water, the borehole was overwhelmed by the ever-increasing number of people waiting to fetch water.

“Now that we have got the second phase of the project which will see water being taken to people’s homes, I believe that the problem of congestion at the borehole has been addressed. I want to thank our donors for always supporting us when we are in need. As a group, we are going to ensure that each household contributes a small fee for maintaining the water system so that it continues serving us,” Lekuru said.

Alfred Wadribo, a founder member of Aliamu women group and the spokesperson for the group, said there has been improvement in people’s lives from the time the first borehole project was commissioned.

“Since we commissioned the first phase of the project last year up to now, we have seen improvement in people’s lives especially when it comes to their health. People have not been getting water borne diseases as it used to be and this time, people are fetching water and they don’t take more time as it used to when they were fetching from rivers and other nearby streams,” Wadribo said.

“And now I think with this second phase of the project, that is pumping of the water where water points have been taken nearer to the people even at homes, people are going to spare more time to do other income generating activities other than going to search for water and I think, this one will improve people’s economy in homesteads,” Wadribo added.

Meanwhile James Anguzu, the health assistant of Oleba health center III, said the project is going to help them to scale up the issue of safe water coverage in Oleba sub-county.

“Since being a motorized well, it is safer than the actual open source that people have been using. We are hopeful that this intervention is going to supplement the efforts of the government and other interventions that are on ground,” Anguzu said.

He noted that they have had issues of water borne diseases like diarrhea, dysentery and other stuff.

“We believe this safe water improvement and supply is going to add to the already struggling water coverage. Our safe water coverage still stands at 53 percent but we believe with addition of other safe water sources like this one, the ones by the government, this is going to scale it up,” Anguzu remarked.