Safe Water Now Closer, Piped System Officially Opens to Karungu I and Karungu II.

Dr. Peter Kaddu(ED)Second - right with other government officials cutting the ribbon to the pump house gate.

The long, arduous trek for clean water is finally over for the residents of Karungu I and Karungu II in Kiryandongo District’s Kichwabugingo Sub County. Last week, a  new piped water system was officially commissioned, bringing a steady stream of life and hope directly to the community.

For years, these two villages relied on a single, insufficient borehole, forcing many residents to resort to unsafe water from streams, which often led to waterborne illnesses like typhoid and threatened their health. That challenging chapter closed on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

The ambitious project, funded by charity:water and constructed by The Water Trust in partnership with government and local stakeholders, represents a significant investment in WASH, public health, and well-being. The newly commissioned system is designed to serve approximately 1,500 people, promising a future free from disease and the gruelling labour of water collection.

The piped water system includes a 40-cubic-metre reservoir tank, six public tap stands, three school taps, three handwashing facilities, one yard tap, an eco-san latrine, a chlorination house, and a pump house.

Crucially, St. Livingstone Primary School is a key beneficiary. The school's pupils and teachers now have safe drinking water and can expect improved hygiene with the presence of a handwashing facility throughout the day.

Godwin, a primary seven candidate, shared the profound impact of the change: "I thank The Water Trust for choosing St. Livingstone. The water is much safer than what we got from the streams, which wasn't treated. We rarely get sick from diseases like typhoid now, and we are able to attend school."

The official ceremony saw a strong turnout, including village members, the pupils and teachers of St. Livingstone, The Water Trust’s team, and government officials, notably the District Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr. Dan Muganga who officiated the ceremony.

Water Committee members receiving the Certificate of Handover.

The new piped system is such a significant upgrade. Sanya Paul, the Chairperson of the Water Board, expressed the community's pleasure, “When it was a borehole, it supplied a very small group, now that it has been transformed into a piped water system, it’s supplying more people in both villages, and people are very pleased with The Water Trust for bringing change to Karungu I and II."

Dr. Peter Kaddu, Executive Director of The Water Trust, urged the community to become fierce protectors of this vital resource. "I would like to encourage you to protect this investment jealously because access to safe and clean water is one of the starting points of living a healthy life," he emphasized during the commissioning ceremony.

With clean water flowing freely and conveniently, the communities of Karungu I and Karungu II are now looking forward to a healthier, more prosperous tomorrow. The long walk for water is officially over.