Today June 5, the Bunyangabu LCV chairperson, James Ategeka Mugarama, commissioned a sanitation facility at Kasunganyanja Health Centre III in Kibiito Sub County and a piped water supply system for Kabonero Sub County. The two projects were funded by International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) at a cost of Shs 120 million.

The Kasunganyanja Health Centre III sanitation facility has a four-stance pit latrine, a bathroom for women, a water harvesting tank, a store and a urinal. The piped water supply system has four public stand taps and a provision for extension of water to individual homesteads.

During the commissioning, Mr Mugarama appreciated the International NGO for supplementing the government’s work. He noted that under the Schools Facilities Grant (SFG) the district only receives about Shs 136 million to cater for the infrastructural needs of all the schools annually, an amount he said was insufficient.

“This sanitation facility is worth Shs 43 million, which is almost a third of the funds we receive under SFG. If it was not for the good partners like IRC, we could be struggling now. We thank them very much for being on ground and doing tangible work,” said the LCV chairperson.

Mr Mugarama encouraged communities to always make a contribution whenever there is need to repair the facilities so as to elongate their life span.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr Nsubuga Isa Hood, said IRC had been exemplary in the district. He cautioned NGOs that don’t do anything on ground but have running Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the district.

“We shall review MOUs with non-performing partners and terminate them where possible,” the CAO warned.

The IRC Regional Water Advisor, Mr Martin Watsisi, explained that they were making a deliberate effort to support health centres and school because they are learning centres where people can find new things and go back to their homes to replicate them.  He thanked the district leadership for allowing an MOU with them and ensuring that the process was so smooth and hustle-free.

“I encourage the leadership of the facilities we have commissioned today to own them. Let something not breakdown tomorrow and you run to IRC for repairs. Put in place mechanisms to ensure proper operation and maintenance,” Watsisi encouraged.