Life will always transform when amenities come within reach. In Mukono District, there is a new wave of hope as residents started reaping the fruits of a solar-powered water system.
This is part of a larger pilot initiative by the government to expand such water sources in the in future.
The project is implemented by the United Alliance for Sustainable Development Goals- Intergovernmental Organisation (UnASDG- IGO) in partnership with K2 INFRAGEN Ltd, MAAN PRATAP MOBILITIES (India), GNDC, and SunGen Power LLC (New Jersey, USA).
Last week, the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi officially unveiled the water pump at Dundu, Kyampisi Sub County. UGX100 million was spent on the project.
The solar-powered water pump will serve between 200 and 500 households once it’s completed. He said that addressing the community’s domestic water needs while supporting the Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiaries with irrigation and production.
Once scaled up, UnASDG-IGO aims to sponsor other similar projects across the country to promote sustainable ecological development in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Particularly the project at Mukono, which provides clean and sustainable water to the community, marks the fourth installation of its kind in the country.
Other installations are in Wakiso district: at Migadde Church of Uganda Primary School, Bukalango Charismatic Church in Kakiri Town Council, and Menvu Lutete in Nansana Municipal Council.
Magyezi commends Ambassador Mukesh Kumar, the Regional Head for East Africa at the UnASDG- IGO, and his team for their efficiency in completing the project within the agreed two-week timeline.
“This project will provide both domestic water and also support agricultural production under the Parish Development Model, Kudos to Ambassador Mukesh Kumar and his team for completing the Ddundu solar-powered water project within two weeks. Take full advantage of the PDM funds, now that water access is readily available for agricultural activities.” Magyezi noted.
Ambassador Mukesh says the project is part of a larger pilot initiative, with plans to expand the number of such solar-powered water systems.
The government plans to establish over 5000 stands in the country, this represents half of the parishes in the country.
The Former State Minister for Water Resources, Ronald Kibuule asked the government to provide stands to small farmer groups dealing in nursery beds for flowers and coffee.
“Access to water for such farmers shall be made easier and help them increase their productivity,” Kibuule noted.
The district secretary for works, Robert Mweisgwa, says the solar-powered water project is more convenient and maintainable than traditional means such as boreholes and shallow wells.
Elizabeth Namanda, the Mukono Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), asked the contractor to provide designs for the water system so that the district can allocate funds for connecting water to distant villages to ease access.
The Resident District Commissioner Fatumah Ndisaba Nabitaka urged residents of Ddundu to protect the system, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the solar panels from theft.
“Form management committees for the proper administration of the water stands, once solar panels get missing the entire water system will be drained leading to supply termination,” Ndisaba noted.
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