Commissioned to photograph and interview beneficiaries of Uganda Red Cross Rural Water and Sanitation Project

A 3-year project, funded by the European Commission and the Danish Red Cross, aimed to improve the water supply, sanitation coverage and hygiene practices in cholera-prone areas of Western Uganda. The project covered 5 districts: Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Hoima, Kabarole and Kasese. In the past this region on the shores of Lake Albert was repeatedly the origin of cholera outbreaks, which spread to other regions of Uganda.

Access to clean and safe water was limited to only 42% of the population. A large number of people fetched water from ponds, swamps, rivers and lakes, which contributed to the high cases of diarrhea and other water and hygiene diseases. It was common to have to walk 3-4 hours a day to fetch water.

More than 700 boreholes and shallow wells have been drilled in these districts since the project started and people have been trained on sanitation and hygiene practices.

Women and children now fetch water from boreholes and shallow wells early in the morning and late afternoon. They use the water for cooking, bathing, washing and drinking. As pointed out by Patrick, District Water Officer, the water coverage is now 72% and there are no more cholera outbreaks in the region.

The benefits of the project have already been widely perceived by the water user communities. Distances are much shorter. It now only takes approximately 10 minutes for people to walk to the closest borehole. Public health has improved. Christopher, community leader says “The last case of cholera in our community was a year ago, just before the shallow well was drilled.”

Irene, 30 years old, 3 children, fetches water from a borehole in Buliisa district three times a day. She used to fetch water from the river, but prefers the borehole water: “It is good for drinking. It’s safe. Before, my children used to have stomachache and diarrhea. Now they do not get sick anymore.” Frank, Red Cross volunteer and Project Lead, complements: “Reduced cases of diarrhea translate into higher school attendance”.

This project was implemented by the Uganda Red Cross in partnership with the beneficiary communities. Communities took part in planning, selection of technologies and, as per national sector policy, they are responsible for operating and maintaining the infra-structure created by the project. One of the key challenges of the project remains the functionality of Water User Committees. As the project approaches its end, communities, which benefited from the installation of the boreholes and shallow wells, need to appropriate this infra-structure and maintain it.