WATER RETURNS TO BUGIRI AS BUSOWA PROJECT REGISTERS MAJOR PROGRESS

Residents of Bugiri Municipality can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the long-awaited Busowa–Bugiri Water Supply Project begins to deliver results. For the first time in over a year, some communities that had been grappling with prolonged dry spells are now receiving water, with improved pressure and reduced rationing reported across several zones.

Implemented by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Bugiri Area, the Busowa project is one of the area’s most ambitious undertakings in recent years. The initiative was conceived to address chronic water shortages in Bugiri Town and to extend supply to Busowa Town Council and surrounding villages. With most of the infrastructure now in place, the system is undergoing active monitoring, marking a steady transition from construction to operationalization.

The project involves pumping water from boreholes in Nawanduki and Budunduli, through a newly constructed network, into Bugiri’s existing reservoir system. From there, water is pumped to a raised tank in Kapyanga, allowing for broader distribution and improved service delivery across the municipality.

According to the technical team, the initial impact has been encouraging. Areas that had gone completely dry for months have started receiving water once again. Others, previously plagued by low pressure and intermittent supply, are now enjoying more stable flow, often three to four times a week, up from just twice.

NWSC’s Area Manager, Ms. Mable Abaho accompanied by the technical team, is currently moving village to village to assess the system’s reach and reliability. These field visits are particularly focused on historically stressed areas where water access had been either unreliable or nonexistent. So far, the feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive.

Behind these improvements lies an intensive engineering effort. The project has seen the construction of a 60,000-litre sump, a 104,000-litre raised steel tank at Busowa, and a series of pump and generator houses. Over 19 kilometers of transmission and distribution lines have been laid, connecting the boreholes to reservoirs and extending reach into new communities.

All civil works for the project have been completed, including installations of two submersible and two high-lift pumps. Notably, yield testing of the boreholes has confirmed sufficient water output, with Nawanduki delivering up to 50,000 litres per hour and Budunduli yielding around 17,000 litres per hour. Electrical and mechanical works have also been finalized, with one of the boreholes already connected to the power grid.

At the moment, the Budunduli system is running on a generator while awaiting final meter installation by UEDCL. Despite this, the system has proven functional, and testing on all lines has been successful, including those feeding both Busowa and Bugiri.

However, a few critical tasks remain. The raised steel tank in Busowa, which is 90% complete, still awaits final touches and testing. Once commissioned, it will officially begin supplying Busowa Town Council and its neighbouring villages. NWSC is also in the process of fencing off all installations to ensure long-term security and safety of the infrastructure.

While full completion is within reach, the progress already made is transforming lives. For the people of Bugiri, who had resigned themselves to empty taps and erratic rationing schedules, the return of regular water supply is a convenience, and a restoration of dignity, health, and opportunity.