Government commissions Shs6bn water projects in Kyankwanzi

What the report says

Two government-funded water projects have been commissioned in Kyankwanzi District, according to Nile Post, with officials saying the facilities will bring clean and safe water closer to residents in Nkandwa and Bananywa sub-counties. The projects were reported at a combined cost of Shs5.8 billion and are expected to serve about 15,000 families across 12 villages.

The report says the schemes were financed through World Bank support under government efforts to improve rural water access and reduce reliance on unsafe sources. The Nkandwa project, valued at Shs2.8 billion, includes solar-powered pumping, storage, sanitation facilities and transmission and distribution lines. It is expected to serve five villages and about 5,000 families. The Bananywa project, costing Shs3 billion, includes pumping stations, solar systems, reservoirs, staff and guard houses, public water points and household connections, and is meant to serve seven villages and about 10,000 families.

At the commissioning, Kyankwanzi Deputy Resident District Commissioner Perusi Kabale and district chairperson Samuel Semugaba urged residents to protect the facilities, use them responsibly and maintain hygiene. Semugaba warned that damage to the systems could push people back to unsafe water sources shared with animals. The Ministry of Water and Environment’s project manager, Umar Ssekalembe, said the systems should last about 20 years if properly maintained.

The development matters because local leaders and residents said it should cut water-related disease risks and ease the burden on women and children who previously walked long distances for water. A community representative and a resident quoted in the story said the new supply had already reduced queues and improved access in some areas.