Currently, the average access to safe water in Kabarole district stands at 77 percent with some sub counties still facing significant challenges like Kijura town council which still stands at 7 percent. Of the 77 percent, only 27 percent of the population has access to water from protected springs, 58 percent relies on shallow well, 4 percent on boreholes and 12 percent on public taps. Since 2018, the district has been implementing a WASH master plan to conclude by 2030.

However, over the past years, the district has been grappling with WASH challenges which include limited access to clean and safe water, poor latrine coverage, open defecation and low hand washing coverage after visiting the latrine.

The Kabarole District Administrative officer (CAO), Swaibu Baraba said the National vision states that “water must be available within 300metres for every household by 2030”. He said, to realize the district’s WASH master plan by 2030, a substantial investment is required with $ 24.1mln allocated for water initiatives and $ 48.1 million for sanitation projects.

Kabarole district leaders say, some parts of the district still face the challenge of open defecation leading to increased diseases associated with poor sanitation. According to the Kabarole district health educator, Catherine Kemigabo, a lot of effort is needed to change people’s attitude. It has been noted that in Kichwamba Sub County alone, out of 31 villages in the entire sub county, 11 villages still practice open defecation.

According to the WASH Baseline sanitation and hygiene survey data report for Kichwamba Sub County, as of December to March 2024, open defecation rates in specific areas are alarming. In parishes of Bwanika, Kihondo and Mabale, open defecation rate is at 42.9 percent, 79.9 percent and 47.4 percent respectively.

Similarly, there are varying levels of improvement in water access across these parishes with Bwanika at 42.9 percent, Kihondo at 79.9 percent and Mabale at 47.4 percent. The data further indicates challenges in hygiene practices, where only 6.4 percent of the entire sub county population wash their hands after visiting the latrine and latrine coverage is at 42.4 percent. In order to address these challenges, the district has been collaborating with different partners like IRC in implementing various interventions which include the construction of new gravity flow water schemes and improved sanitation around homes.

Last month, the district launched the construction of a Uganda Shillings 900 million gravity water scheme in Bwanika parish, Kichwamba Sub County with an aim of benefiting 14 villages. According to the Kabarole district chairperson LCV, Richard Rwabuhinga,the initiative seeks to reduce dependence on water from crater lakes which have been exposed to Bilharzia and Typhoid over the years. Rwabuhinga said the water project will be constructed in three phases with the initial phase costing shs 237 mln. “Our goal is to ensure elimination of drinking or fetching water from unprotected sources by 2030. This water project will also reduce the burden of Bilharzia in Kichwamba sub county” he said.

He added that for many years, residents of Bwanika have been relying on water from crater lakes, exposing them to contamination. He revealed that collaborative efforts with partners including IRC will contribute funds to facilitate timely completion of the water project before 2026. To address WASH challenges at the household level, the district in collaboration with IRC has initiated a home improvement campaign.

Mary Ayoreka from IRC Uganda emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting the district in implementing and achieving the WASH master plan by 2030. She said the organization’s primary focus in 2024 is on addressing the longstanding sanitation challenges in Kichwamba Sub County.She added that the intensive home improvement campaign initiated in December last year involved door to door visits for health education, raising awareness and promoting practices to enhance sanitation and hygiene.

“We initiated home improvement campaigns in December and as a result, 19 out of the 31 villages in the target area are now officially open defecation free. However, a persistent challenge remains in the area of hand washing practices” she said.

She said to address the issue of hand washing, in collaboration with other partners, they have taken an initiative to provide hand washing facilities which they anticipate that the intervention will lead to an improvement in hand washing practices.

During the inspection, it was evident that the water system, overseen by Kotido DLG, aimed to provide safe water to an estimated 12,000 Households spread across five villages. This initiative marked a significant milestone in ensuring access to clean and safe water for communities in the area.

Relatedly; to enhance sanitation and hygiene practices, the District initiated five villages that previously lacked adequate latrine or handwashing facilities. Following an intensive four-month campaign, remarkable progress was observed, with latrine coverage and handwashing facilities increasing from 0% to 95%.

However, despite these achievements, it was noted that full coverage had not yet been attained. Consequently, five villages were not declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) until every household was accounted for.

Organized by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) – Karamoja Water Management Zone (KWMZ), along with Youth Go Green and the youth sub-committee, the aim was to get young minds buzzing about how to tackle big environmental problems. From across the Eastern Region, 10 universities and 10 schools received invitations. The idea was to bring in fresh ideas and viewpoints on how to handle issues like saving water, taking care of nature, and dealing with climate change.

At the debates, participants shared their thoughts on things like saving water, keeping things clean, using green energy, and fighting climate change. It was all about encouraging them to think hard and come up with smart ways to help their communities and the environment.

The march, which took place  today, served as a platform to highlight the importance of water conservation, environmental protection, and climate resilience in the Eastern region. Participants waved banners and placards adorned with messages promoting sustainable water management practices, eco-friendly initiatives, and actions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Representatives from MWE, NEMA, Eco Green, and NWSC led the procession, emphasizing the need for collective action to safeguard the region’s water resources and preserve its natural ecosystems.

In addition to the march, the Eastern Regional Water Week activities include a series of workshops, seminars, and community outreach programs scheduled throughout the week. These initiatives aim to empower local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders with knowledge and tools to address water and environmental challenges effectively.