By Ivan Mugisha,
KAMWENGE
Pupils and teachers at Busabura Primary School in Busiriba Sub-county, Kamwenge District, can now access safe water and improved sanitation facilities following the commissioning of two Ecosan toilets and a 10,000-litre water tank, worth over Shs 76 million.
The facilities, handed over by the Joint Efforts to Save the Environment (JESE) in partnership with Join For Water and district leaders, aim to improve hygiene and protect water resources in the area.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held Friday at the school, Wilberforce Turyagyenda, the head teacher of Busabura Primary School, said the development will ease the burden of pupils walking long distances to fetch water and address the challenge of limited sanitation facilities.
“Our pupils have been trekking more than four kilometers to access clean water,” Turyagyenda said. “With over 500 learners and very few latrines, sanitation was a big challenge. These new facilities will not only improve hygiene but also attract more children to school and enhance academic performance.”
The initiative also included the commissioning of a Shs 107 million piped water system targeting three villages in Kiyagara Parish—Rwebikwato II, Miyora I, and Miyora II—in Kahunge Sub-county.
According to Lawrence Tusiime, JESE’s Program Manager, the intervention followed a request from the district council, which highlighted the urgent need for water and sanitation services in the community.
“We responded to a public demand raised through the district council,” Tusiime explained. “Our message to the school and community is clear: take care of these structures sustainably so that they benefit many generations.”
Harriet Katusiime, Kamwenge’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), said the projects are a significant boost to service delivery in the district.
“These facilities not only support Busabura Primary School and the surrounding communities but also create an opportunity for us as a district to extend similar services to other high-need areas,” Katusiime said.
Representing Join For Water, George Bwambale praised the collaboration between the district and its development partners.
“This success story is possible because of the strong support from district stakeholders,” Bwambale said. “We now call on the community to embrace and use these projects responsibly so they can have a lasting impact.”
Kamwenge Deputy RDC Benjamin Mutegeki, who officiated the commissioning, commended Join For Water for funding the projects.
“We appreciate Join For Water for stepping in to support government efforts in service delivery,” Mutegeki said. “Projects like these uplift communities and meet pressing needs.”
JESE, a Ugandan NGO recognized as a center of expertise in the Rwenzori region, has been partnering with Join For Water for more than 20 years.
The organization focuses on equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and advocates for the conservation of water resources from Fort Portal to Lake George and the Semliki Basin.
