news 14 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
New Piped Water Systems to Serve 70,000 in West Nile Region
A Shs15.3 billion project funded by Uganda's Ministry of Water and Environment and Germany's KfW Development Bank will provide clean piped water to 70,094 people across 34 villages in four West Nile districts, replacing reliance on risky river and stream sources. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/70-000-residents-set-to-benefit-from-new-west-nile-water-systems-5390628
Thousands of residents in Uganda’s West Nile sub-region, including Koboko, Adjumani, Moyo, and Madi Okollo districts, stand to gain from newly built piped water systems. The Shs15.3 billion initiative, backed by the Ministry of Water and Environment with funding from Germany’s KfW Development Bank, targets 70,094 people in 34 villages. Designed for a 20-year lifespan, the project has advanced to the technical handover stage.
Prior to this, communities depended heavily on the River Nile, streams, and shallow wells, heightening risks of waterborne diseases. In places like Paladu Village in Koboko’s Lobule Sub-county, over 500 people shared a single borehole that often failed, pushing residents to unsafe alternatives during dry spells.
Local voices highlight the struggles. Faiza Dawa from Pijoke Village noted how host communities lagged behind refugees in borehole access, relying on streams and wells. In Adjumani’s Pakele Sub-county, Perina Kaero described women trekking for water at night, often with infants in tow.
The systems, now in test-running after minor fixes like flow meter calibration and solar panel adjustments, include yard taps and public standposts in areas such as Boroli refugee settlement, Arra-Dufile, Lobule, and Rhino Camp. Officials like Eng. Catherine Agwai Angwec of WSDF-North and Eng. Richard Matua from the ministry praised the timely support, which aids both hosts and refugees while boosting public health and stability.
Authorities urge residents to adopt the treated piped water, cautioning against untreated river sources.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)