22,500 people in northern Ugandan refugee communities now benefitting from clean water

A population of 22,500 people - including 18,000 refugees and 4,500 host community members at Maaji refugee settlement in Adjumani district can now access clean drinking water, proper sanitation and hygiene thanks to World Vision. 

With funding from the US Government’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM), World Vision has constructed a motorized solar-powered water system supplying 112,000 litres of clean drinking water daily to refugees and host communities. 

The system is connected to a total of 32 taps covering a radius of 5KMs. With this new motorized scheme, refugees and host community members at Maaji III settlement no longer have to stand in queues waiting for their turn to fetch water as there is now increased access. Additionally, three boreholes have also been drilled and four others rehabilitated. For proper use and mantainance of the facilities, six water user committees have been instituted and trained in hygiene and sanitation management.

To ensure the risk of waterborne diseases is minimized, access to sanitation and hygiene facilities was a priority of the project. World Vision constructed 60 latrines for persons with special needs and 14 blocks of VIP latrines for schools at Maaji III settlement. Additionally, 5,000 jerry cans and 11,250 menstrual hygiene packets were distributed. More than 1,000 people have also been trained on proper solid waste management and hand washing, while 60 people with disabilities have been trained in soap making.

The USD$721,927 project was commissioned on 22nd August 2017 by the US government's department of state regional refugee coordinator Jean Woynick.