By KT Reporter
The Northern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation has highlighted several water interventions implemented in Kitgum District since 2019, aimed at improving access to clean and safe water for local communities.
The Northern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation is an organization established to support the operation and maintenance of piped water supply and sanitation systems in small towns and rural growth centres across Northern Uganda. It is gazetted by the Minister for Water and Environment as a water authority to manage multiple water supply systems as a utility.In Kitgum District, the organization operates in Mucwini West, Omiya Anyima, Kitgum Matidi Town Council, Namokora North, and Lagoro Sub-county.
According to Bony Olwa, a senior sociologist with Northern Umbrella, key interventions include the repair of burst pipes and replacement of inverters in Giligili Parish, Namokora North Sub-county, at a cost of 12.5 million shillings.
Routine maintenance, water extensions to Bobi Central and Oloki-Ayweri villages, and the addition of 20 new connections in Kitgum Matidi Town Council were completed for 35 million shillings.
Further projects included the extension and intensification of the water system, the addition of 100 new connections, and the drilling of an additional borehole in Omiya Anyima Sub-county, valued at 540 million shillings. Other interventions involved replacing solar panels and a pump damaged by a bush fire, with one solar panel replaced at a cost of 12.5 million shillings.
Patrick Okello Oyuru, the Water Engineer for Northern Umbrella, revealed that more interventions are planned for this financial year. These include extending and intensifying the pipe network, adding 50 new connections, drilling an additional borehole, installing a larger tank (100–150 cubic metres), and extending pipelines to villages such as Lapara, Onyala, Kitileng, and Corner Kalabong, all in Namokora North Sub-county.
However, Geoffrey Okeny, the Kitgum District Assistant Water Engineer, noted that despite these investments, some areas still need improvement, particularly in communication between Northern Umbrella and the district.
“When the district water department went out for a fact-finding mission about the activities of Northern Umbrella, they found that the communities are not in good terms with them. In other places where Northern Umbrella is operating, the water facilities are there, but there’s no water,” Okeny said.
Richard Canodonga, chairperson of the Standing Committee of Works and Technical Services for Kitgum District Council, added that committees have received numerous complaints regarding Northern Umbrella’s activities.
“Communities claim that some have paid money to get connected to the water supply by Northern Umbrella, but after close to two years, they are yet to be connected,” Canodonga said.
In response, Olwa acknowledged communication gaps but promised to address them immediately.”There are communication gaps, but we promise to address that with immediate effect,” he said.
Kitgum District has been working to increase access to safe water, with current access rates standing at 83% overall and 89% in rural areas. The district has 1,417 domestic water points serving 217,579 people, with six piped schemes in place.
These interventions form part of broader efforts to improve water and sanitation infrastructure in Northern Uganda, supported by organisations such as the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and funded by development partners.
Opoka Denis
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