ACTS Uganda Water Project Transforming Lives In 14 Kasese District Villages

KASESE – A water project implemented by Africa Community Technical Service (ACTS) Uganda, in partnership with Kasese District Local Government, has extended access to clean and safe water to 14 villages in Bwesumbu Sub County and Kirabaho-Kabatunda Town Council in Busongora North.

The project has included the rehabilitation and boosting of 1.6 kilometers of waterpipeline, the rehabilitation and boosting of five reservoir tanks, and the rehabilitation of two water sources.

The intervention is aimed at addressing long-standing water shortages while improving sanitation and hygiene in communities that have struggled with limited access to safe water.

According to Hilda Katusiime, Project Manager at ACTS Uganda, the project has benefited more than 16,881 people in 2,614 households.

Beyond water infrastructure, ACTS Uganda also implemented sanitation and hygiene interventions in the beneficiary communities. A total of 14 villages were triggered, while seven villages were verified as Open Defecation Free (ODF).

The project also trained 84 cluster heads and Village Health Teams (VHTs) to promote sanitation, hygiene and sustainable behavior change within the communities.

SUPPORTING SANITATION IN SCHOOLS

As part of the intervention, Kaghando Primary School received a five-stance latrine block to improve sanitation and hygiene for more than 435 girls.

Prior, in phase one other three schools in Bwesumbu sub county also each school received a five-stance improved latrine like Kasangali SDA primary school, Kasangali primary school, Rwigho COU Nursery and primary school in addition to 1.1b water project which was commissioned last year in October 2025.

Katusiime explained that before the intervention, boys, girls and teachers were sharing the same latrine facilities, a situation that posed health and safety concerns and did not meet government standards for appropriate school sanitation facilities.

She emphasized that combining water infrastructure with sanitation and hygiene promotion creates stronger and more sustained behaviour change.

According to Katusiime, involving communities from the design stage also promotes ownership, reduces vandalism and strengthens their willingness to contribute operation and maintenance fees needed to sustain the water systems.

LEADERS CALL FOR COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

During the official commissioning of the project, Joshua Katunda, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), urged communities to take ownership of the newly established water infrastructure.

He encouraged residents to contribute modest user fees towards the operation and maintenance of the water systems to ensure that the facilities remain functional and continue serving communities for years to come.

Despite the progress, district officials acknowledged that water scarcity remains a major challenge in Kasese District and appealed for additional investment in water infrastructure.

WATER COVERAGE IMPROVEMENT.

Katusabe Rapheline, the Assistant Water Officer for Kasese District, thanked ACTS Uganda for rehabilitating and boosting the water system, which she noted had originally been donated to the people of Kasese in 2010.

She said the intervention had helped improve access to safe water in communities that previously faced significant challenges.

Although water coverage in Kasese District has reached approximately 65 percent, some communities still have limited access to safe and reliable water.

For residents of Bwesumbu and Kabatunda-Kirabaho Town Council, accessing clean water had remained a daily struggle, particularly during prolonged dry seasons.

Women and girls were often forced to spend long hours walking to rivers and other distant water sources, many of which were not safe for human consumption.

REDUCING WATERBORNE DISEASES

The lack of safe and reliable water had also contributed to serious health challenges in Bwesumbu Sub County, where many families previously depended on contaminated wells, rivers and streams.

However, residents say the situation has improved significantly following the ACTS Uganda intervention.

They reported a reduction in cases of typhoid, which had previously been associated with consumption of unsafe water.

Evelyne Baseme, the officer in charge of Bwesumbu Health Centre III, said typhoid cases among children and adults had declined from approximately 75 to 30 cases per month.

She attributed the reduction partly to ACTS Uganda’s intervention in extending access to clean and safe water, alongside its sanitation and hygiene activities in the communities.

COMMUNITY LEADERS WELCOME THE INTERVENTION

Mukeka Misach, LC III of Bwesumbu Sub County, described the water project as a practical intervention against poor health and the loss of productive time experienced by mothers who previously walked long distances in search of water.

He urged the community to take responsibility for maintaining the infrastructure and emphasized the importance of functional water user committees in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project.

“This project belongs to you. Protect it, maintain it, and ensure it serves generations to come,” he said.

Meanwhile, KuleYonah, the Mayor of Kabatunda Town Council, applauded ACTS Uganda for rehabilitating and boosting the water system, saying it now serves most villages within the town council.

He appealed to ACTS Uganda to extend its support to other water projects in the area to further increase water coverage across the town council.

Kule said local leaders and residents were optimistic that the Bwesumbu Gravity Flow Scheme would significantly improve livelihoods, reduce the risks associated with water scarcity and contribute to socio-economic development in the area.

SUSTAINABILITY REMAINS KEY

The success of the project will depend not only on the infrastructure but also on continued community stewardship.

Local leaders are calling on residents to protect the water facilities, participate actively in water user committees and contribute towards operation and maintenance so that the systems remain functional and accessible.

Local authorities and community members say the completion of the project marks a significant turning point in addressing the water crisis in the area.

The project is expected to reduce the spread of waterborne diseases while easing the burden on women and children who have traditionally spent considerable time and energy searching for safe water.

The improvement in water infrastructure is therefore expected to contribute not only to better access to clean water, but also to improved health, sanitation, livelihoods and dignity for thousands of residents across Busongora North.