The Ministry of Local Government, through the LoCAL Facility, launches construction of the Pawel Langetta Mini Water Supply in Kal Village, Opara Sub-county and launch additional Danish support to scale up LoCAL in Amuru District and nine other districts.
The new piped water supply system will have a production capacity of 5,000 litres per hour, pump and store up to 32,000 litres, with a distribution of five kilometres. It is expected to serve 1300 people living in Kal, Langetta and Opok villages, as well as key public service points in the area.
The facility will provide reliable water to Pawel Langetta Primary School, Pawel Health Centre III, local markets, Opara Sub-county Headquarters, bringing safe and clean water closer to residents and public institutions.
The intervention comes at a critical time for a community that has experienced persistent water scarcity. In addition to improving access to safe water, the facility is expected to reduce the distance residents travel to water sources, improve school attendance and retention, and reduce the vulnerability of women and girls to domestic and gender based violence associated with long distances travelled in search of water.
The water system will also support small-scale irrigation at Pawel Langetta Primary School, create opportunities for women engaged in market activities, and contribute to improved sanitation, health and overall community wellbeing.
Representing the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, the Commissioner for Urban Inspection, Mr. Andrew Otim Kibwota, appreciated the Government of Denmark for its continued support towards expanding climate-resilient investments to more communities. “Climate resilience must translate into practical solutions that improve lives. This support brings climate finance closer to the people who need it most.”Ben Kumumanya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government.
“In 2023, Belgium provided critical seed funding to launch LoCAL in Uganda. This was followed by the European Union, Ireland, and now Denmark,” Mr Oyekunle-Ajai said at the event in Kal Village.
“Ultimately, I am confident that Uganda is well placed to demonstrate how to attract more public and private climate finance in Uganda with the right systems for evidence-based and Locally-led adaptation investment. said H.E Mags Gaynor, the Irish ambassador to Uganda.
Speaking at the launch, the Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda, H.E. Signe Winding Albjerg, said Denmark has committed USD 23.47 million through UNCDF to support rural communities in Uganda to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The four-year support is expected to expand Performance-Based Climate Resilient Grant and Technical Assistance from 14 to 32 districts, with 62 climate-resilient investments already projected in 2026/27 (for 4.8 million USD)
At the launch, Akun Lucy Odong, Senior Clinical Officer and In-charge of Pawel Health Centre III, highlighted the importance of the water supply to health service delivery. “With water now closer to the health centre, sanitation and hygiene will improve, while patients, caregivers and expectant mothers will no longer have to cross the Juba Highway in search of water. This will also help reduce home deliveries associated with limited access to water at the facility” she said.
The Assistant Commissioner Monitor &Evaluation Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Otutu Nathan also encouraged district local government to monitor and assessment the satisfactorion of the community once the construction was finalised.
The event has brought together representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Office of the Prime Minister; National Planning Authority; Ministry of Water and Environment; senior officers from the Ministry of Local Government; and development partners supporting the LoCAL Facility, including Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the European Union.
