Provide Clean Water in Northern Uganda

In partnership with Generosity.org, International Lifeline Fund finished December 2017 by successfully drilling two new wells and rehabilitating two existing wells to serve a total of 2,682 residents, students, and teachers with safe and reliable drinking water. In addition, Lifeline has continued efforts to support a pre-existing clean water ecosystem. Our goal is to minimize the risks of borehole malfunctions while maximizing the likelihood that timely corrective action will be taken in the event water access problems do arise. Activities to promote the community ownership and maintenance of these water points included:

1) training a 9-person Water User Committee (WUC) from each village in borehole oversight and maintenance (O&M) procedures, including the collection of water user fees;

2) training a caretaker from each village to track borehole functionality and report breakdowns; and,

3) educating and sensitizing a total of 265 community members on best practices for hygiene and sanitation to maintain the cleanliness of their water points.

As a result of these activities, the communities are now well-equipped to maintain their water points for years to come.

These projects have already made significant impacts on the residents of the beneficiary villages. Patrick A. is a 33-year-old father of four from Alado village. Before the installation of the new well in Alado, Patrick remembers traveling up to 2 kilometers each way to collect water from an unprotected spring. Patrick expressed his gratitude for the newly drilled borehole and its positive impact on his health and hygiene. “Now,” he says, “I do not experience cases of stomach problems [from drinking contaminated water] and can bathe at any time.”

The two communities that were previously relying on dysfunctional wells are likewise seeing changes in their everyday lives. Mary A., a mother of seven, recalls the yellow water that used to flow from the Abatapo community well prior to its rehabilitation, and how difficult the handle was to pump. “At times,” Mary remembers, “we traveled to another borehole when the water color became too bad.” These days, at the newly rehabilitated borehole, Mary has access to clean water with a handle that is easy for her to pump. “This saves me time to take care of my family and saves me stress from waiting in line at the other village’s borehole,” says Mary.

Continuing on this momentum, Lifeline is currently preparing to implement new and exciting programs throughout 2018. In particualr, we look forward to ten new projects with our longtime partner Water To Thrive, which will improve water access for an estimated 3,800 beneficiaries. 

Thank you to all of our generous donors who enable these positive impacts to reach so many lives. Your continous support helps Lifeline to advance our goal of providing universal access to clean water across the entire district of Apac, Uganda.

Gratefully, 

The Lifeline Team