By Our Reporter
Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has officially handed over 20 handpump boreholes worth UGX 560 million to communities in the Northern and North-Eastern sub-regions of Teso and Lango that will serve 9,223 people across the districts of Oyam, Lira, Kapelebyong, Katakwi and Bukedea.
The boreholes were officially received by the Resident District Commissioner of Bukedea, Hajj Imran Mulunga, in a ceremony held in Rock View Village in Bukedea District and attended by regional Members of Parliament, Resident District Commissioners, Local Councillors, Chief Administrative Officers and residents.
While giving his remarks, Mulunga said, “This project demonstrates tremendous progress toward aiding the government in prioritising the development of the nation’s human capital under the National Development Plan III, and I appreciate Uganda Breweries Limited for being a true corporate citizen that transforms the lives of so many through this and other projects.”
Under the National Development Plan III (NDPIII) 2020-2025, the government is placing a priority on human capital development through – among others – improving the population’s health, safety and management by increasing access to safe water supply from 70% to 85% in rural areas and from 74% to 100% in urban areas. This is in response to the country’s losing 400 people daily from water-borne infections like diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera and typhoid as a result of limited access to clean water, according to Ministry of Health figures.
Additionally, Water.org – a global non-profit organisation working to bring water and sanitation to the world – states that of the country’s approximately 45 million population, 7 million Ugandans lack access to safe water.
The water project was handed over by UBL’s Managing Director, Andrew Kilonzo, who said, “Uganda’s Vision 2040 identifies human capital development as one of the fundamentals that need to be strengthened to accelerate the country’s transformation, and investing in sanitation and hygiene is one of the ways through which we shall achieve this transformation. Through this project and others like it, UBL is working with the government to directly address the low access to safe drinking water (51%), latrine coverage (19%), and access to hand-washing facilities (34%).”
The project, which is under UBL’s Water of Life Program, commenced in July 2020, involved input from LCV Chairpersons, District Water Officers and communities in the sub-regions and was implemented under the guidance of national policy and technical guidelines in compliance with safe drinking water standards.
Through the program, the brewer works closely with several stakeholders to implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve an overall positive water impact in its supply chains and beyond by – among others – improving water use efficiency in its operations and directly replenishing the water it uses to create a net positive water impact.
“We believe in sharing value with the communities in Uganda, which includes finding needs that we can invest resources to address. We took this opportunity to strengthen the community in Teso and Lango subregions by improving access to clean water and sanitation,” said Andrew Kilonzo, UBL Managing Director.
“We will continue to play an active role in being a positive driver of growth and development in Uganda,” Kilonzo added.
The business has thus far invested over UGX 20 billion in water and sanitation projects across Uganda benefitting over 2 million people.
Some of the projects include a UGX 335 million piped water supply system in Buwali sub-county, Bududa district that has benefitted over 2,000 residents, the construction of 37 boreholes in the Acholi sub-region and the implementation of a UGX 1 billion water and sanitation project in Bulangira, Kibuku District in partnership with Water Aid Uganda.
