For years, the communities in Busukuya B in Buyaga Town Council, Bulambuli District depended on an unprotected spring as their primary source of water.
Fetching water was not only difficult but also unsafe. Community members used a bucket to draw water directly from the open source, often contaminated in the process.
Wilson Nabende – 74 who serves as the Chairperson of the Water User Committee in Busukuya B lives with his wife and their eight children says that access to safe and reliable water has always been a major concern for him and his community.
“The water source we had was not safe. We used buckets to draw water, which would easily contaminate it”
In addition to poor water quality, Wilson says that, “The handle around the well was no longer working properly and would hit people as they fetched water,” he recalls. “Accidents became too common.”
Due to these dangers, many residents began avoiding the spring altogether, opting instead for nearby swamps, which exposed them to even greater health risks.
This situation deeply concerned Wilson, not only as a father but also in his role as Chairperson of the Water User Committee, responsible for the welfare of his community.
Upon upgrading the water source to a handpump, the improved water source now provides safer, cleaner, and more reliable access to water for the community.
“We are very grateful for this support. The handpump has improved the quality of water we fetch. The water is clean and it is safe to use as you can see” Nabende mentioned as he pumped water.
The intervention has also strengthened local management of the facility, with the Water User Committee better able to oversee a functional and safer system.
Wilson remains hopeful that the improved water source will contribute to better health and well-being for his family and the wider community.
In areas where water sources had broken down, Hand Pump Mechanic Associations worked alongside district structures to assess, repair, and restore damaged water points.
The restoration of these facilities brought safe water closer to communities and reduced the burden on families who previously had to travel long distances in search of water