Access to Water and Sanitation in Oyam and Amolatar Districts

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2014) include: 30 latrines constructed 10 new wells drilled and 45 wells refurbished (with a target of 44 wells this represents slightly more than 100% of the project target). For each well a water users committee was put in place to ensure proper maintenance of the water point. 493 people received training on water-related health issues and good water and sanitation practices (exceeding the project target by 274%) and 193 people received training on the proper management of water points (exceeding the project target by 482%). Basic knowledge about water and sanitation was traditionally transmitted from generation to generation but has been lost due to decades of conflict and displacement in these regions. Therefore people in the target communities participated in the water and sanitation trainings in much higher numbers than anticipated. Over 53 000 people now have access to clean water and sanitation facilities and are better able to manage and maintain these facilities. The burden on women and girls has lessened significantly as the installation of wells in some villages shortened the walking distance for water collection from 3 kilometers to 500 meters. The incidence of water-borne diseases such as dysentery and bilharzia was reduced by at least 75% from 2010 to 2013 as reported by a sample of health centres in the project area. These results have contributed to improving the health and well-being of resettled people living in the Oyam and Amolatar districts of northern Uganda.